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

> Source: BetterThanSPY research, https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-schd
> Data as of October 22, 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: 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

| Investment | Status | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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](https://betterthanspy.com/research/qqq): Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | Fell short | 0/5 short, 3/3 long | −5.8% | 0.0% | +7.8% | +15.3% | +16.9% | +101% | +94.0% | +531% | 23.0% | 0.69 |
| [IVV](https://betterthanspy.com/research/ivv): iShares Core S&P 500 ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 3/3 long | −1.2% | +2.5% | +8.0% | +12.8% | +15.7% | +88.8% | +80.8% | +319% | 17.0% | 0.79 |
| [SPY](https://betterthanspy.com/research/spy): State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 3/3 long | −1.2% | +2.5% | +8.0% | +12.7% | +15.6% | +88.4% | +80.3% | +316% | 17.2% | 0.78 |
| [IWB](https://betterthanspy.com/research/iwb): iShares Russell 1000 ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 3/3 long | −1.2% | +2.3% | +7.6% | +12.2% | +15.0% | +87.1% | +73.6% | +305% | 17.2% | 0.73 |
| [VTI](https://betterthanspy.com/research/vti): Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 3/3 long | −1.4% | +1.9% | +7.3% | +12.4% | +15.3% | +87.3% | +71.5% | +298% | 17.5% | 0.71 |
| [DGRO](https://betterthanspy.com/research/dgro): iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 3/3 long | +4.3% | +4.5% | +11.1% | +16.6% | +20.1% | +77.8% | +69.6% | +270% | 13.7% | 0.84 |
| [XOM](https://betterthanspy.com/research/xom): Exxonmobil Holdings Corporation | Made the list | 5/5 short, 2/3 long | +12.3% | +16.1% | +20.8% | +48.2% | +59.8% | +79.7% | +236% | +216% | 26.5% | 1.05 |
| [MSFT](https://betterthanspy.com/research/msft): Microsoft Corporation | Fell short | 2/5 short, 2/3 long | +4.6% | +33.7% | +20.9% | +10.9% | +0.9% | +61.9% | +75.6% | +862% | 28.2% | 0.54 |
| [JNJ](https://betterthanspy.com/research/jnj): Johnson & Johnson | Fell short | 2/5 short, 2/3 long | −0.6% | +5.2% | +19.6% | +31.1% | +41.8% | +92.5% | +88.0% | +209% | 18.0% | 0.80 |
| HDV: iShares Core High Dividend ETF | Fell short | 2/5 short, 2/3 long | +7.2% | +8.6% | +17.1% | +27.9% | +29.0% | +76.5% | +86.8% | +177% | 13.0% | 1.03 |
| [VYM](https://betterthanspy.com/research/vym): Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 2/3 long | +2.5% | +1.2% | +6.3% | +14.3% | +18.5% | +75.9% | +72.8% | +209% | 13.8% | 0.87 |
| DVY: iShares Select Dividend ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 1/3 long | +4.2% | +1.3% | +8.9% | +16.8% | +19.3% | +75.0% | +61.9% | +178% | 15.1% | 0.72 |
| [PG](https://betterthanspy.com/research/pg): The Procter & Gamble Company | Fell short | 3/5 short, 0/3 long | +11.7% | +11.9% | +17.7% | +19.4% | +12.0% | +20.2% | +32.9% | +156% | 18.4% | 0.40 |
| SDY: State Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF | Fell short | 1/5 short, 0/3 long | +6.7% | +4.3% | +10.0% | +16.4% | +17.4% | +55.9% | +47.6% | +163% | 14.0% | 0.63 |
| NOBL: ProShares - S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 0/3 long | +6.2% | +5.0% | +10.6% | +14.6% | +17.2% | +47.8% | +40.4% | +178% | 14.5% | 0.54 |
| [JEPI](https://betterthanspy.com/research/jepi): JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 0/3 long | +1.6% | +3.1% | +4.1% | +6.1% | +8.3% | +38.4% | +42.3% | — | 11.0% | 0.70 |

## 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) |  | +5.8% | +8.5% | +16.0% | +30.8% | +35.7% | +72.3% | +62.8% | +256% | 14.4% | 0.75 |  |  |
| BNO: United States Brent Oil Fund LP | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +19.0% | +34.0% | +36.4% | +144% | +139% | +118% | +205% | +359% | 37.1% | 0.79 | 1.15% | $768M |
| DBE: Invesco DB Energy Fund | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +11.4% | +26.4% | +33.5% | +130% | +123% | +98.0% | +149% | +268% | 30.6% | 0.75 | 0.79% | $132M |
| UGA: United States Gasoline Fund, LP | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −0.6% | +16.0% | +32.8% | +132% | +125% | +117% | +227% | +401% | 35.1% | 0.85 | 1.08% | $167M |
| HACK: Amplify Cybersecurity ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +0.6% | +15.7% | +51.5% | +54.8% | +42.0% | +142% | +87.4% | +381% | 25.8% | 0.62 | 0.60% | $3.3B |
| CRAK: VanEck Oil Refiners ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +0.5% | +15.8% | +36.4% | +69.7% | +74.3% | +118% | +143% | +325% | 20.9% | 0.96 | 0.61% | $810M |
| RSPT: Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −3.9% | +6.2% | +21.6% | +40.0% | +43.0% | +141% | +116% | +559% | 25.1% | 0.74 | 0.40% | $6.1B |
| IGPT: Invesco AI and Next Gen Software ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −16.2% | −6.5% | +19.5% | +43.0% | +52.0% | +173% | +86.2% | +492% | 30.2% | 0.56 | 0.57% | $1.4B |
| CIBR: First Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | +0.2% | +15.1% | +49.3% | +45.8% | +35.2% | +134% | +96.7% | +461% | 26.2% | 0.65 | 0.58% | $17B |
| EWT: iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −9.7% | +2.3% | +20.7% | +60.6% | +67.3% | +187% | +147% | +448% | 24.3% | 0.87 | 0.59% | $12B |
| AIVC: Amplify Bloomberg AI Value Chain ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −12.0% | −2.6% | +17.5% | +48.6% | +54.6% | +209% | +87.5% | +300% | 31.9% | 0.56 | 0.59% | $132M |
| VLUE: iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −4.4% | −0.4% | +22.8% | +40.8% | +54.9% | +139% | +112% | +286% | 18.4% | 0.91 | 0.15% | $9.0B |
| USO: United States Oil Fund, LP | 5/5 short, 2/3 long | +12.8% | +23.4% | +25.6% | +136% | +130% | +106% | +180% | +77.7% | 37.7% | 0.74 | 0.86% | $1.9B |
| QVAL: Alpha Architect U.S. Quantitative Value ETF | 4/5 short, 2/3 long | +7.1% | +11.2% | +16.8% | +30.8% | +39.9% | +88.9% | +91.7% | +229% | 21.4% | 0.72 | 0.28% | $642M |
| XSW: State Street SPDR S&P Software & Services ETF | 3/5 short, 2/3 long | +6.3% | +26.3% | +36.2% | +16.2% | +8.6% | +77.8% | +17.6% | +301% | 29.7% | 0.26 | 0.35% | $488M |
| FBT: First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund | 3/5 short, 2/3 long | −0.4% | +11.2% | +30.9% | +31.3% | +45.2% | +100% | +67.3% | +205% | 22.2% | 0.58 | 0.55% | $2.9B |

## 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) |  | +5.8% | +8.5% | +16.0% | +30.8% | +35.7% | +72.3% | +62.8% | +256% | 14.4% | 0.75 |  |
| [MPC](https://betterthanspy.com/research/mpc): Marathon Petroleum Corporation | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +17.9% | +45.8% | +108% | +181% | +148% | +226% | +660% | +1,314% | 33.4% | 1.39 | $129B |
| CVI: CVR Energy, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +12.5% | +68.6% | +88.5% | +134% | +62.6% | +105% | +289% | +1,306% | 52.4% | 0.79 | $5.9B |
| WSM: Williams-Sonoma, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +12.4% | +17.7% | +33.1% | +40.7% | +40.7% | +249% | +202% | +1,298% | 44.4% | 0.72 | $31B |
| FRO: Frontline Plc | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +6.9% | +41.8% | +62.0% | +182% | +148% | +222% | +762% | +1,270% | 49.7% | 1.12 | $11B |
| HALO: Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +8.2% | +60.0% | +82.1% | +77.1% | +89.4% | +258% | +220% | +1,255% | 40.4% | 0.78 | $14B |
| DHT: DHT Holdings, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +12.8% | +41.9% | +50.2% | +133% | +126% | +207% | +443% | +1,094% | 39.0% | 1.07 | $3.9B |
| [VLO](https://betterthanspy.com/research/vlo): Valero Energy Corporation | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +13.0% | +37.6% | +83.5% | +162% | +169% | +254% | +515% | +1,014% | 36.9% | 1.18 | $123B |
| [PBR-A](https://betterthanspy.com/research/pbr-a): Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +20.9% | +41.0% | +27.3% | +115% | +127% | +146% | +751% | +733% | 37.4% | 1.34 | $155B |
| [NTAP](https://betterthanspy.com/research/ntap): NetApp, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +10.4% | +27.9% | +92.4% | +102% | +84.8% | +206% | +155% | +696% | 35.3% | 0.71 | $42B |
| [PBR](https://betterthanspy.com/research/pbr): Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +23.4% | +39.6% | +28.0% | +128% | +139% | +144% | +721% | +647% | 37.4% | 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.

## More research

- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed JEPI (Covered-Call Income)](https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-jepi)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed GLD (Gold)](https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-gld)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed TLT (Long-Term Treasuries)](https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-tlt)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed IBIT (Bitcoin)](https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-ibit)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed SPY (S&P 500)](https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-spy)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed VOO (S&P 500)](https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-voo)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed VTI (Total US Stock Market)](https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-vti)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed QQQ (Nasdaq-100)](https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-qqq)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed DIA (Dow Jones Industrial Average)](https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-dia)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed IWM (Russell 2000 Small Caps)](https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-iwm)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed VXUS (International Stocks)](https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-vxus)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed NVDA (Nvidia)](https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-nvda)

## Explore further

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