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 22, 2026.
Compare the entire market against SCHD live →Key findings
- How hard it was to top SCHD: It was difficult for ETFs and less so for stocks. Of 957 eligible ETFs, 17 (1.8%) outperformed under the consistency rule, and 5 were all-weather. Among 1,502 eligible stocks, 160 (11%) qualified, and 57 were all-weather.
- Who came out ahead across the three groups:
- Popular alternatives: XOM qualified with 5 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term periods ahead of SCHD. QQQ, IVV, and SPY each kept ahead over 3 of 3 long-term periods but none of the 5 short-term periods, so they fell short overall. VTI also had 0 of 5 short-term and 3 of 3 long-term periods ahead.
- Top ETFs: Technology led the ETF group, with 7 of the top ETFs shown in the table, while Commodities accounted for 3. BNO and UGA, both tied to energy commodities, and technology funds HACK and CIBR each outperformed in all 3 long-term periods and most short-term periods.
- Top stocks: 160 stocks made the cut. The standout stocks shown include energy companies MPC, CVI, and VLO, along with industrials FRO and DHT, which operate in marine shipping. Each outperformed in all 5 short-term and all 3 long-term periods.
- The risk trade-off: The top ETFs and stocks shown all had higher volatility than SCHD over 5 years. Their median volatility was 26.2% for ETFs and 38.2% for stocks, compared with 14.4% for SCHD. Only 5 of 15 top ETFs had a higher Sharpe ratio than SCHD, while 8 of 10 top stocks did, suggesting that most of the stocks' extra return per unit of risk was enough to justify their bumpier ride, but this was true for only a minority of the ETFs.
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) | — | +5.8% | +8.5% | +16.0% | +30.8% | +35.7% | +72.3% | +62.8% | +256% | 14.4% | 0.75 |
| QQQ Fell shortInvesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | 0/5 short3/3 long | −5.8% | 0.0% | +7.8% | +15.3% | +16.9% | +101% | +94.0% | +531% | 23.0%1.6× SCHD | 0.69 |
| IVV Fell shortiShares Core S&P 500 ETF | 0/5 short3/3 long | −1.2% | +2.5% | +8.0% | +12.8% | +15.7% | +88.8% | +80.8% | +319% | 17.0%1.2× SCHD | 0.79 |
| SPY Fell shortState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 0/5 short3/3 long | −1.2% | +2.5% | +8.0% | +12.7% | +15.6% | +88.4% | +80.3% | +316% | 17.2%1.2× SCHD | 0.78 |
| IWB Fell shortiShares Russell 1000 ETF | 0/5 short3/3 long | −1.2% | +2.3% | +7.6% | +12.2% | +15.0% | +87.1% | +73.6% | +305% | 17.2%1.2× SCHD | 0.73 |
| VTI Fell shortVanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF | 0/5 short3/3 long | −1.4% | +1.9% | +7.3% | +12.4% | +15.3% | +87.3% | +71.5% | +298% | 17.5%1.2× SCHD | 0.71 |
| DGRO Fell shortiShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | 0/5 short3/3 long | +4.3% | +4.5% | +11.1% | +16.6% | +20.1% | +77.8% | +69.6% | +270% | 13.7%1.0× SCHD | 0.84 |
| XOM Made the listExxonmobil Holdings Corporation | 5/5 short2/3 long | +12.3% | +16.1% | +20.8% | +48.2% | +59.8% | +79.7% | +236% | +216% | 26.5%1.8× SCHD | 1.05 |
| MSFT Fell shortMicrosoft Corporation | 2/5 short2/3 long | +4.6% | +33.7% | +20.9% | +10.9% | +0.9% | +61.9% | +75.6% | +862% | 28.2%2.0× SCHD | 0.54 |
| JNJ Fell shortJohnson & Johnson | 2/5 short2/3 long | −0.6% | +5.2% | +19.6% | +31.1% | +41.8% | +92.5% | +88.0% | +209% | 18.0%1.2× SCHD | 0.80 |
| HDV Fell shortiShares Core High Dividend ETF | 2/5 short2/3 long | +7.2% | +8.6% | +17.1% | +27.9% | +29.0% | +76.5% | +86.8% | +177% | 13.0%0.9× SCHD | 1.03 |
| VYM Fell shortVanguard High Dividend Yield ETF | 0/5 short2/3 long | +2.5% | +1.2% | +6.3% | +14.3% | +18.5% | +75.9% | +72.8% | +209% | 13.8%1.0× SCHD | 0.87 |
| DVY Fell shortiShares Select Dividend ETF | 0/5 short1/3 long | +4.2% | +1.3% | +8.9% | +16.8% | +19.3% | +75.0% | +61.9% | +178% | 15.1%1.0× SCHD | 0.72 |
| PG Fell shortThe Procter & Gamble Company | 3/5 short0/3 long | +11.7% | +11.9% | +17.7% | +19.4% | +12.0% | +20.2% | +32.9% | +156% | 18.4%1.3× SCHD | 0.40 |
| SDY Fell shortState Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF | 1/5 short0/3 long | +6.7% | +4.3% | +10.0% | +16.4% | +17.4% | +55.9% | +47.6% | +163% | 14.0%1.0× SCHD | 0.63 |
| NOBL Fell shortProShares - S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | +6.2% | +5.0% | +10.6% | +14.6% | +17.2% | +47.8% | +40.4% | +178% | 14.5%1.0× SCHD | 0.54 |
| JEPI Fell shortJPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | +1.6% | +3.1% | +4.1% | +6.1% | +8.3% | +38.4% | +42.3% | — | 11.0%0.8× SCHD | 0.70 |
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) | — | +5.8% | +8.5% | +16.0% | +30.8% | +35.7% | +72.3% | +62.8% | +256% | 14.4% | 0.75 | ||
| 1 | BNO CommoditiesUnited States Brent Oil Fund LP | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +19.0% | +34.0% | +36.4% | +144% | +139% | +118% | +205% | +359% | 37.1%2.6× SCHD | 0.79 | 1.15% | $768M |
| 2 | DBE AlternativesInvesco DB Energy Fund | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +11.4% | +26.4% | +33.5% | +130% | +123% | +98.0% | +149% | +268% | 30.6%2.1× SCHD | 0.75 | 0.79% | $132M |
| 3 | UGA CommoditiesUnited States Gasoline Fund, LP | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −0.6% | +16.0% | +32.8% | +132% | +125% | +117% | +227% | +401% | 35.1%2.4× SCHD | 0.85 | 1.08% | $167M |
| 4 | HACK TechnologyAmplify Cybersecurity ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +0.6% | +15.7% | +51.5% | +54.8% | +42.0% | +142% | +87.4% | +381% | 25.8%1.8× SCHD | 0.62 | 0.60% | $3.3B |
| 5 | CRAK EnergyVanEck Oil Refiners ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +0.5% | +15.8% | +36.4% | +69.7% | +74.3% | +118% | +143% | +325% | 20.9%1.5× SCHD | 0.96 | 0.61% | $810M |
| 6 | RSPT TechnologyInvesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −3.9% | +6.2% | +21.6% | +40.0% | +43.0% | +141% | +116% | +559% | 25.1%1.7× SCHD | 0.74 | 0.40% | $6.1B |
| 7 | IGPT TechnologyInvesco AI and Next Gen Software ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −16.2% | −6.5% | +19.5% | +43.0% | +52.0% | +173% | +86.2% | +492% | 30.2%2.1× SCHD | 0.56 | 0.57% | $1.4B |
| 8 | CIBR TechnologyFirst Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | +0.2% | +15.1% | +49.3% | +45.8% | +35.2% | +134% | +96.7% | +461% | 26.2%1.8× SCHD | 0.65 | 0.58% | $17B |
| 9 | EWT TechnologyiShares MSCI Taiwan ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −9.7% | +2.3% | +20.7% | +60.6% | +67.3% | +187% | +147% | +448% | 24.3%1.7× SCHD | 0.87 | 0.59% | $12B |
| 10 | AIVC TechnologyAmplify Bloomberg AI Value Chain ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −12.0% | −2.6% | +17.5% | +48.6% | +54.6% | +209% | +87.5% | +300% | 31.9%2.2× SCHD | 0.56 | 0.59% | $132M |
| 11 | VLUE Broad MarketiShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −4.4% | −0.4% | +22.8% | +40.8% | +54.9% | +139% | +112% | +286% | 18.4%1.3× SCHD | 0.91 | 0.15% | $9.0B |
| 12 | USO CommoditiesUnited States Oil Fund, LP | 5/5 short2/3 long | +12.8% | +23.4% | +25.6% | +136% | +130% | +106% | +180% | +77.7% | 37.7%2.6× SCHD | 0.74 | 0.86% | $1.9B |
| 13 | QVAL Broad MarketAlpha Architect U.S. Quantitative Value ETF | 4/5 short2/3 long | +7.1% | +11.2% | +16.8% | +30.8% | +39.9% | +88.9% | +91.7% | +229% | 21.4%1.5× SCHD | 0.72 | 0.28% | $642M |
| 14 | XSW TechnologyState Street SPDR S&P Software & Services ETF | 3/5 short2/3 long | +6.3% | +26.3% | +36.2% | +16.2% | +8.6% | +77.8% | +17.6% | +301% | 29.7%2.1× SCHD | 0.26 | 0.35% | $488M |
| 15 | FBT HealthcareFirst Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund | 3/5 short2/3 long | −0.4% | +11.2% | +30.9% | +31.3% | +45.2% | +100% | +67.3% | +205% | 22.2%1.5× SCHD | 0.58 | 0.55% | $2.9B |
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) | — | +5.8% | +8.5% | +16.0% | +30.8% | +35.7% | +72.3% | +62.8% | +256% | 14.4% | 0.75 | |
| 1 | MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +17.9% | +45.8% | +108% | +181% | +148% | +226% | +660% | +1,314% | 33.4%2.3× SCHD | 1.39 | $129B |
| 2 | CVI Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingCVR Energy, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +12.5% | +68.6% | +88.5% | +134% | +62.6% | +105% | +289% | +1,306% | 52.4%3.6× SCHD | 0.79 | $5.9B |
| 3 | WSM Specialty RetailWilliams-Sonoma, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +12.4% | +17.7% | +33.1% | +40.7% | +40.7% | +249% | +202% | +1,298% | 44.4%3.1× SCHD | 0.72 | $31B |
| 4 | FRO Marine ShippingFrontline Plc | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +6.9% | +41.8% | +62.0% | +182% | +148% | +222% | +762% | +1,270% | 49.7%3.5× SCHD | 1.12 | $11B |
| 5 | HALO BiotechnologyHalozyme Therapeutics, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +8.2% | +60.0% | +82.1% | +77.1% | +89.4% | +258% | +220% | +1,255% | 40.4%2.8× SCHD | 0.78 | $14B |
| 6 | DHT Marine ShippingDHT Holdings, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +12.8% | +41.9% | +50.2% | +133% | +126% | +207% | +443% | +1,094% | 39.0%2.7× SCHD | 1.07 | $3.9B |
| 7 | VLO Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingValero Energy Corporation | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +13.0% | +37.6% | +83.5% | +162% | +169% | +254% | +515% | +1,014% | 36.9%2.6× SCHD | 1.18 | $123B |
| 8 | PBR-A Oil & Gas IntegratedPetróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +20.9% | +41.0% | +27.3% | +115% | +127% | +146% | +751% | +733% | 37.4%2.6× SCHD | 1.34 | $155B |
| 9 | NTAP Computer HardwareNetApp, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +10.4% | +27.9% | +92.4% | +102% | +84.8% | +206% | +155% | +696% | 35.3%2.5× SCHD | 0.71 | $42B |
| 10 | PBR Oil & Gas IntegratedPetróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +23.4% | +39.6% | +28.0% | +128% | +139% | +144% | +721% | +647% | 37.4%2.6× SCHD | 1.32 | $165B |
What stands out
The ETF results point to a narrow set of forces rather than a broad lift across the market. Technology, commodities, and energy were prominent among the leaders, while several familiar broad-market and dividend alternatives, including QQQ, IVV, and VTI, kept ahead over the long term but did not meet the short-term hurdle. The pattern suggests that the edge over SCHD was often tied to particular sectors or themes, not simply to owning a wider mix of stocks.
The stock leaders were concentrated in energy and marine shipping, with several companies in refining and marketing. Their lead held across both short- and long-term periods, though the volatility figures show a much bumpier ride than SCHD. Most of the top stocks had higher Sharpe ratios, but the ETF group’s median Sharpe ratio was slightly below SCHD’s. These results describe past returns and risk, not what will happen next.
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.