Benchmark research · Dividend Stocks
ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed SCHD (Dividend Stocks)
Any investment can look great over a single hand-picked timeframe. To find what truly kept ahead of SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF), we screened SCHD against the entire market of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs across 8 different time windows from 1 month to 10 years, including reinvested dividends. A contender had to come out ahead in both the short term and the long term to make the list. Data as of October 20, 2026.
Compare the entire market against SCHD live →Key findings
- How hard it was to top SCHD: Across over 10,000 stocks and ETFs screened, only 28 of 957 eligible ETFs, or 2.9%, and 200 of 1,502 eligible stocks, or 13%, outperformed in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods. Just 7 ETFs and 71 stocks were all-weather, outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period.
- Who came out ahead across the three groups:
- Popular alternatives: XOM, MSFT, and HDV cleared the bar, with XOM ahead in 5 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term periods, and MSFT and HDV ahead in 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term periods. QQQ, IVV, SPY, and VTI were ahead in 3 of 3 long-term periods but 0 of 5 short-term periods, so they fell short overall. No same-index funds were excluded.
- Top ETFs: Technology led the top ETF group, with 10 of the top 15 ETFs in that category. Standouts included technology funds RSPT, EWT, and SMH, along with commodity fund BNO. In all, 28 ETFs qualified.
- Top stocks: 200 stocks qualified. The top 10 shown include healthcare names NTRA and HALO, energy companies CVI and MPC, and consumer names COKE and WSM. Energy and healthcare were among the sectors represented.
- The risk trade-off: The top ETFs and stocks had higher volatility than SCHD, with median volatility roughly double or more than the benchmark over 5 years. None of the top 15 ETFs or top 10 stocks was less volatile. Still, 10 of 15 ETFs and 9 of 10 stocks had higher Sharpe ratios, meaning most delivered more return per unit of risk than SCHD over that period.
How popular alternatives compare
Well-known funds and stocks investors often compare against SCHD, sorted by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term.
| Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | ||
| SCHD Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (benchmark) | — | +3.7% | +6.8% | +13.6% | +28.2% | +33.0% | +67.5% | +59.1% | +252% | 14.3% | 0.72 |
| QQQ Fell shortInvesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | 0/5 short3/3 long | −3.2% | +3.2% | +11.2% | +17.4% | +17.9% | +106% | +97.2% | +553% | 23.0%1.6× SCHD | 0.71 |
| IVV Fell shortiShares Core S&P 500 ETF | 0/5 short3/3 long | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.7% | +82.3% | +324% | 17.0%1.2× SCHD | 0.80 |
| SPY Fell shortState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 0/5 short3/3 long | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.3% | +81.7% | +321% | 17.1%1.2× SCHD | 0.79 |
| IWB Fell shortiShares Russell 1000 ETF | 0/5 short3/3 long | −0.6% | +3.7% | +8.6% | +12.9% | +15.1% | +87.7% | +75.1% | +309% | 17.2%1.2× SCHD | 0.74 |
| VTI Fell shortVanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF | 0/5 short3/3 long | −0.8% | +3.2% | +8.3% | +13.1% | +15.2% | +87.9% | +72.6% | +302% | 17.5%1.2× SCHD | 0.71 |
| DGRO Fell shortiShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | 0/5 short3/3 long | +2.8% | +3.9% | +9.4% | +15.1% | +18.1% | +74.2% | +68.0% | +267% | 13.7%1.0× SCHD | 0.83 |
| XOM Made the listExxonmobil Holdings Corporation | 5/5 short2/3 long | +12.4% | +20.7% | +22.0% | +47.9% | +62.4% | +76.7% | +232% | +214% | 26.5%1.8× SCHD | 1.04 |
| MSFT Made the listMicrosoft Corporation | 3/5 short2/3 long | +6.0% | +32.5% | +27.7% | +13.2% | +3.8% | +66.6% | +80.3% | +946% | 28.2%2.0× SCHD | 0.56 |
| HDV Made the listiShares Core High Dividend ETF | 3/5 short2/3 long | +5.7% | +7.5% | +14.6% | +25.9% | +26.8% | +71.8% | +83.3% | +172% | 13.0%0.9× SCHD | 1.00 |
| JNJ Fell shortJohnson & Johnson | 1/5 short2/3 long | −3.8% | +4.8% | +13.6% | +27.1% | +36.9% | +84.6% | +82.1% | +196% | 17.9%1.2× SCHD | 0.76 |
| VYM Fell shortVanguard High Dividend Yield ETF | 0/5 short2/3 long | +1.1% | +1.7% | +5.1% | +13.3% | +16.9% | +72.8% | +71.1% | +208% | 13.8%1.0× SCHD | 0.85 |
| DVY Fell shortiShares Select Dividend ETF | 0/5 short1/3 long | +1.5% | 0.0% | +5.7% | +14.5% | +16.9% | +69.9% | +58.4% | +172% | 15.0%1.0× SCHD | 0.69 |
| PG Fell shortThe Procter & Gamble Company | 2/5 short0/3 long | +9.1% | +7.7% | +12.0% | +14.9% | +8.0% | +15.8% | +28.3% | +145% | 18.3%1.3× SCHD | 0.37 |
| SDY Fell shortState Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF | 1/5 short0/3 long | +4.2% | +2.0% | +6.0% | +13.6% | +14.3% | +51.0% | +44.0% | +157% | 14.0%1.0× SCHD | 0.59 |
| NOBL Fell shortProShares - S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | +4.1% | +2.2% | +6.6% | +11.8% | +14.1% | +43.3% | +37.3% | +172% | 14.5%1.0× SCHD | 0.51 |
| JEPI Fell shortJPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | +1.9% | +3.7% | +3.4% | +6.2% | +8.7% | +38.1% | +43.3% | — | 11.0%0.8× SCHD | 0.71 |
ETFs that consistently outperformed SCHD
Top 15 by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then by 10Y return. Green cells outperformed SCHD in that period. Excludes leveraged and inverse funds, ETFs under $100M in assets, stocks under $2.0B in market cap, and anything without 10 years of history.
| # | Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Fund | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | Expense | Assets | |||
| — | SCHD Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (benchmark) | — | +3.7% | +6.8% | +13.6% | +28.2% | +33.0% | +67.5% | +59.1% | +252% | 14.3% | 0.72 | ||
| 1 | BNO CommoditiesUnited States Brent Oil Fund LP | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +13.6% | +35.6% | +40.9% | +137% | +141% | +108% | +196% | +348% | 37.1%2.6× SCHD | 0.77 | 1.15% | $768M |
| 2 | DBE AlternativesInvesco DB Energy Fund | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +8.4% | +28.7% | +39.3% | +126% | +126% | +91.6% | +144% | +264% | 30.6%2.1× SCHD | 0.74 | 0.79% | $132M |
| 3 | RSPT TechnologyInvesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −2.8% | +8.4% | +24.4% | +41.0% | +42.9% | +141% | +119% | +572% | 25.1%1.7× SCHD | 0.75 | 0.40% | $6.1B |
| 4 | EWT TechnologyiShares MSCI Taiwan ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −7.2% | +11.9% | +28.4% | +65.7% | +69.7% | +195% | +153% | +468% | 24.2%1.7× SCHD | 0.89 | 0.59% | $12B |
| 5 | UGA CommoditiesUnited States Gasoline Fund, LP | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −0.9% | +16.9% | +40.5% | +130% | +130% | +111% | +221% | +399% | 35.1%2.4× SCHD | 0.84 | 1.08% | $167M |
| 6 | HACK TechnologyAmplify Cybersecurity ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −3.7% | +7.5% | +49.8% | +49.3% | +36.6% | +131% | +81.3% | +373% | 25.8%1.8× SCHD | 0.59 | 0.60% | $3.3B |
| 7 | CRAK EnergyVanEck Oil Refiners ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +1.6% | +20.3% | +41.5% | +73.9% | +81.5% | +121% | +146% | +336% | 20.9%1.5× SCHD | 0.97 | 0.61% | $810M |
| 8 | SMH TechnologyVanEck Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −8.3% | −2.2% | +17.8% | +46.4% | +57.8% | +290% | +323% | +1,665% | 36.9%2.6× SCHD | 0.97 | 0.35% | $66B |
| 9 | SOXX Broad MarketiShares Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −10.6% | −4.5% | +19.9% | +59.7% | +71.2% | +234% | +237% | +1,392% | 38.9%2.7× SCHD | 0.82 | 0.33% | $39B |
| 10 | FTXL TechnologyFirst Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −9.6% | −1.9% | +18.2% | +64.8% | +85.1% | +249% | +235% | +1,077% | 38.8%2.7× SCHD | 0.82 | 0.60% | $1.2B |
| 11 | IGPT TechnologyInvesco AI and Next Gen Software ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −11.4% | +2.5% | +29.0% | +49.5% | +57.4% | +186% | +95.1% | +525% | 30.1%2.1× SCHD | 0.60 | 0.57% | $1.4B |
| 12 | CIBR TechnologyFirst Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −2.6% | +9.4% | +49.9% | +42.4% | +31.9% | +127% | +93.2% | +454% | 26.1%1.8× SCHD | 0.64 | 0.58% | $17B |
| 13 | KNCT TechnologyInvesco Next Gen Connectivity ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −9.9% | 0.0% | +16.8% | +38.3% | +42.5% | +156% | +106% | +423% | 24.8%1.7× SCHD | 0.71 | 0.40% | $155M |
| 14 | NXTG TechnologyFirst Trust Indxx NextG ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −5.3% | +4.5% | +17.2% | +38.2% | +39.4% | +140% | +112% | +330% | 19.1%1.3× SCHD | 0.89 | 0.70% | $541M |
| 15 | AIVC TechnologyAmplify Bloomberg AI Value Chain ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −8.3% | +5.3% | +25.5% | +54.0% | +57.4% | +219% | +94.7% | +314% | 31.8%2.2× SCHD | 0.58 | 0.59% | $132M |
Stocks that consistently outperformed SCHD
Top 10 by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then by 10Y return. Individual stocks swing far more than funds; check the volatility column.
| # | Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Company | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | Market cap | |||
| — | SCHD Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (benchmark) | — | +3.7% | +6.8% | +13.6% | +28.2% | +33.0% | +67.5% | +59.1% | +252% | 14.3% | 0.72 | |
| 1 | NTRA Medical - Diagnostics & ResearchNatera, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +9.5% | +54.6% | +95.4% | +77.4% | +115% | +896% | +261% | +3,841% | 57.6%4.0× SCHD | 0.74 | $59B |
| 2 | COKE Beverages - Non-AlcoholicCoca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +12.3% | +17.3% | +14.9% | +42.9% | +61.7% | +255% | +461% | +1,569% | 38.0%2.6× SCHD | 1.10 | $14B |
| 3 | CVI Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingCVR Energy, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +16.4% | +79.1% | +106% | +147% | +78.5% | +115% | +304% | +1,424% | 52.3%3.6× SCHD | 0.80 | $6.2B |
| 4 | MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +18.1% | +51.1% | +123% | +191% | +159% | +234% | +690% | +1,387% | 33.4%2.3× SCHD | 1.41 | $133B |
| 5 | WSM Specialty RetailWilliams-Sonoma, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +12.2% | +14.1% | +26.5% | +37.0% | +35.6% | +238% | +199% | +1,268% | 44.4%3.1× SCHD | 0.71 | $30B |
| 6 | HALO BiotechnologyHalozyme Therapeutics, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +11.6% | +61.3% | +78.8% | +76.9% | +87.1% | +254% | +226% | +1,196% | 40.4%2.8× SCHD | 0.79 | $14B |
| 7 | ANF Apparel - RetailAbercrombie & Fitch Co. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +18.3% | +71.3% | +66.3% | +30.7% | +143% | +166% | +328% | +1,117% | 62.9%4.4× SCHD | 0.77 | $6.9B |
| 8 | VLO Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingValero Energy Corporation | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +10.2% | +38.9% | +93.2% | +166% | +176% | +259% | +524% | +1,061% | 36.9%2.6× SCHD | 1.18 | $125B |
| 9 | THC Medical - Care FacilitiesTenet Healthcare Corporation | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +4.3% | +40.1% | +42.4% | +36.5% | +34.7% | +399% | +315% | +1,058% | 45.1%3.1× SCHD | 0.86 | $22B |
| 10 | P Computer HardwareEverpure, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +11.3% | +80.9% | +86.0% | +83.3% | +39.0% | +282% | +388% | +899% | 55.0%3.8× SCHD | 0.85 | $42B |
What stands out
The ETF leaders show a mix of technology and energy exposure, with commodities also represented. Technology accounted for 10 of the top 15 ETFs, while BNO and UGA point to the role of commodity funds in the results. The qualifying rule requires strength across both short-term and long-term periods, and several leaders, including BNO and DBE, outperformed in all 5 short-term and all 3 long-term periods.
The stock leaders are spread across healthcare, energy, consumer staples, and consumer discretionary, though energy appears repeatedly among the names shown. The results came with a bumpier ride: median volatility for the top ETFs and stocks was roughly double or more than SCHD's over 5 years. Most of each group had higher Sharpe ratios, but that does not erase the larger swings investors faced.
Methodology
- Short-term periods: 1M, 3M, 6M, YTD, 1Y. Long-term periods: 3Y, 5Y, 10Y. An investment outperformed a period when its total return, with dividends reinvested, was higher than SCHD's. Returns within 0.5 points or 3% of SCHD's (whichever is larger) count as a tie and are shown in gray.
- Consistent means outperforming in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods, so a recent hot streak alone is not enough. All-weather means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period. Rankings use long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then the 10Y return.
- Excludes leveraged and inverse funds, ETFs under $100M in assets, stocks under $2.0B in market cap, and anything without 10 years of history.
- Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily returns over 5 years. The Sharpe ratio is return above cash divided by volatility over the same period: higher means more return per unit of risk.
- Returns and risk figures are computed from daily adjusted prices and update with each market day. Past performance does not predict future results.