# ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed SCHD (Dividend Stocks)

> Source: EasyCompare research, https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-schd
> Data as of October 20, 2026. Total returns include reinvested dividends. Past performance does not predict future results; nothing here is investment advice.

SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF) screened against the entire market of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs over 8 periods from 1 month to 10 years, with dividends reinvested. To make the list, an investment had to outperform SCHD in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods. "All-weather" means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period. Returns in the tables are total returns over each period; volatility and Sharpe ratio cover 5 years.

## 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

| Investment | Status | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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](https://easycompare.io/research/qqq): Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | Fell short | 0/5 short, 3/3 long | −3.2% | +3.2% | +11.2% | +17.4% | +17.9% | +106% | +97.2% | +553% | 23.0% | 0.71 |
| [IVV](https://easycompare.io/research/ivv): iShares Core S&P 500 ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 3/3 long | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.7% | +82.3% | +324% | 17.0% | 0.80 |
| [SPY](https://easycompare.io/research/spy): State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 3/3 long | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.3% | +81.7% | +321% | 17.1% | 0.79 |
| [IWB](https://easycompare.io/research/iwb): iShares Russell 1000 ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 3/3 long | −0.6% | +3.7% | +8.6% | +12.9% | +15.1% | +87.7% | +75.1% | +309% | 17.2% | 0.74 |
| [VTI](https://easycompare.io/research/vti): Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 3/3 long | −0.8% | +3.2% | +8.3% | +13.1% | +15.2% | +87.9% | +72.6% | +302% | 17.5% | 0.71 |
| [DGRO](https://easycompare.io/research/dgro): iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 3/3 long | +2.8% | +3.9% | +9.4% | +15.1% | +18.1% | +74.2% | +68.0% | +267% | 13.7% | 0.83 |
| [XOM](https://easycompare.io/research/xom): Exxonmobil Holdings Corporation | Made the list | 5/5 short, 2/3 long | +12.4% | +20.7% | +22.0% | +47.9% | +62.4% | +76.7% | +232% | +214% | 26.5% | 1.04 |
| [MSFT](https://easycompare.io/research/msft): Microsoft Corporation | Made the list | 3/5 short, 2/3 long | +6.0% | +32.5% | +27.7% | +13.2% | +3.8% | +66.6% | +80.3% | +946% | 28.2% | 0.56 |
| HDV: iShares Core High Dividend ETF | Made the list | 3/5 short, 2/3 long | +5.7% | +7.5% | +14.6% | +25.9% | +26.8% | +71.8% | +83.3% | +172% | 13.0% | 1.00 |
| [JNJ](https://easycompare.io/research/jnj): Johnson & Johnson | Fell short | 1/5 short, 2/3 long | −3.8% | +4.8% | +13.6% | +27.1% | +36.9% | +84.6% | +82.1% | +196% | 17.9% | 0.76 |
| [VYM](https://easycompare.io/research/vym): Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 2/3 long | +1.1% | +1.7% | +5.1% | +13.3% | +16.9% | +72.8% | +71.1% | +208% | 13.8% | 0.85 |
| DVY: iShares Select Dividend ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 1/3 long | +1.5% | 0.0% | +5.7% | +14.5% | +16.9% | +69.9% | +58.4% | +172% | 15.0% | 0.69 |
| [PG](https://easycompare.io/research/pg): The Procter & Gamble Company | Fell short | 2/5 short, 0/3 long | +9.1% | +7.7% | +12.0% | +14.9% | +8.0% | +15.8% | +28.3% | +145% | 18.3% | 0.37 |
| SDY: State Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF | Fell short | 1/5 short, 0/3 long | +4.2% | +2.0% | +6.0% | +13.6% | +14.3% | +51.0% | +44.0% | +157% | 14.0% | 0.59 |
| NOBL: ProShares - S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 0/3 long | +4.1% | +2.2% | +6.6% | +11.8% | +14.1% | +43.3% | +37.3% | +172% | 14.5% | 0.51 |
| [JEPI](https://easycompare.io/research/jepi): JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 0/3 long | +1.9% | +3.7% | +3.4% | +6.2% | +8.7% | +38.1% | +43.3% | — | 11.0% | 0.71 |

## ETFs that consistently outperformed SCHD

| Investment | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe | 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 |  |  |
| BNO: United States Brent Oil Fund LP | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +13.6% | +35.6% | +40.9% | +137% | +141% | +108% | +196% | +348% | 37.1% | 0.77 | 1.15% | $768M |
| DBE: Invesco DB Energy Fund | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +8.4% | +28.7% | +39.3% | +126% | +126% | +91.6% | +144% | +264% | 30.6% | 0.74 | 0.79% | $132M |
| RSPT: Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −2.8% | +8.4% | +24.4% | +41.0% | +42.9% | +141% | +119% | +572% | 25.1% | 0.75 | 0.40% | $6.1B |
| EWT: iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −7.2% | +11.9% | +28.4% | +65.7% | +69.7% | +195% | +153% | +468% | 24.2% | 0.89 | 0.59% | $12B |
| UGA: United States Gasoline Fund, LP | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −0.9% | +16.9% | +40.5% | +130% | +130% | +111% | +221% | +399% | 35.1% | 0.84 | 1.08% | $167M |
| HACK: Amplify Cybersecurity ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −3.7% | +7.5% | +49.8% | +49.3% | +36.6% | +131% | +81.3% | +373% | 25.8% | 0.59 | 0.60% | $3.3B |
| CRAK: VanEck Oil Refiners ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +1.6% | +20.3% | +41.5% | +73.9% | +81.5% | +121% | +146% | +336% | 20.9% | 0.97 | 0.61% | $810M |
| [SMH](https://easycompare.io/research/smh): VanEck Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −8.3% | −2.2% | +17.8% | +46.4% | +57.8% | +290% | +323% | +1,665% | 36.9% | 0.97 | 0.35% | $66B |
| [SOXX](https://easycompare.io/research/soxx): iShares Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −10.6% | −4.5% | +19.9% | +59.7% | +71.2% | +234% | +237% | +1,392% | 38.9% | 0.82 | 0.33% | $39B |
| FTXL: First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −9.6% | −1.9% | +18.2% | +64.8% | +85.1% | +249% | +235% | +1,077% | 38.8% | 0.82 | 0.60% | $1.2B |
| IGPT: Invesco AI and Next Gen Software ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −11.4% | +2.5% | +29.0% | +49.5% | +57.4% | +186% | +95.1% | +525% | 30.1% | 0.60 | 0.57% | $1.4B |
| CIBR: First Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −2.6% | +9.4% | +49.9% | +42.4% | +31.9% | +127% | +93.2% | +454% | 26.1% | 0.64 | 0.58% | $17B |
| KNCT: Invesco Next Gen Connectivity ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −9.9% | 0.0% | +16.8% | +38.3% | +42.5% | +156% | +106% | +423% | 24.8% | 0.71 | 0.40% | $155M |
| NXTG: First Trust Indxx NextG ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −5.3% | +4.5% | +17.2% | +38.2% | +39.4% | +140% | +112% | +330% | 19.1% | 0.89 | 0.70% | $541M |
| AIVC: Amplify Bloomberg AI Value Chain ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −8.3% | +5.3% | +25.5% | +54.0% | +57.4% | +219% | +94.7% | +314% | 31.8% | 0.58 | 0.59% | $132M |

## Stocks that consistently outperformed SCHD

| Investment | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe | 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 |  |
| [NTRA](https://easycompare.io/research/ntra): Natera, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +9.5% | +54.6% | +95.4% | +77.4% | +115% | +896% | +261% | +3,841% | 57.6% | 0.74 | $59B |
| COKE: Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +12.3% | +17.3% | +14.9% | +42.9% | +61.7% | +255% | +461% | +1,569% | 38.0% | 1.10 | $14B |
| CVI: CVR Energy, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +16.4% | +79.1% | +106% | +147% | +78.5% | +115% | +304% | +1,424% | 52.3% | 0.80 | $6.2B |
| [MPC](https://easycompare.io/research/mpc): Marathon Petroleum Corporation | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +18.1% | +51.1% | +123% | +191% | +159% | +234% | +690% | +1,387% | 33.4% | 1.41 | $133B |
| WSM: Williams-Sonoma, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +12.2% | +14.1% | +26.5% | +37.0% | +35.6% | +238% | +199% | +1,268% | 44.4% | 0.71 | $30B |
| HALO: Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +11.6% | +61.3% | +78.8% | +76.9% | +87.1% | +254% | +226% | +1,196% | 40.4% | 0.79 | $14B |
| ANF: Abercrombie & Fitch Co. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +18.3% | +71.3% | +66.3% | +30.7% | +143% | +166% | +328% | +1,117% | 62.9% | 0.77 | $6.9B |
| [VLO](https://easycompare.io/research/vlo): Valero Energy Corporation | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +10.2% | +38.9% | +93.2% | +166% | +176% | +259% | +524% | +1,061% | 36.9% | 1.18 | $125B |
| THC: Tenet Healthcare Corporation | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +4.3% | +40.1% | +42.4% | +36.5% | +34.7% | +399% | +315% | +1,058% | 45.1% | 0.86 | $22B |
| [P](https://easycompare.io/research/p): Everpure, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +11.3% | +80.9% | +86.0% | +83.3% | +39.0% | +282% | +388% | +899% | 55.0% | 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.

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## Explore further

- Full page: https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-schd
- All research pages: https://easycompare.io/llms.txt