key points
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SCHD charges much lower fees and pays a higher dividend yield than NOBL.
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NOBL leans more towards consumer defensive and industrials, while SCHD leans more towards energy and health care.
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While one ETF focuses on yield, the other is oriented toward dividend growth
Both Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (NYSEMKT:SCHD) and this ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NYSEMKT:NOBL) Targets dividend-focused US equities, but SCHD stands out for its low costs and high yield, while NOBL offers a more diverse sector mix.
The ETFs take different approaches: SCHD tracks the Dow Jones US Dividend 100 index, while NOBL invests at least 80% of its total assets in the constituent securities of its index, with a minimum of 40 equally weighted stocks and no single sector comprising more than 30% of the index weight.
Snapshot (cost and size)
|
metric |
SCHD |
noble |
|---|---|---|
|
Issuer |
schwab |
ProShare |
|
expense ratio |
0.06% |
0.35% |
|
1-Year Total Returns (as of 2026-03-21) |
13.8% |
5.7% |
|
dividend yield |
3.5% |
2% |
|
beta |
0.65 |
0.76 |
|
Om |
$98.2 billion |
$10.9 billion |
Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; Beta is calculated from five-year monthly returns. 1-year returns represent the total returns over the last 12 months.
SCHD comes in as a more affordable option, charging only 0.06% annual fee compared to NOBL’s 0.35%. SCHD also offers a high dividend yield, which may attract income-focused investors looking for strong payouts.
Performance and risk comparison
|
metric |
SCHD |
noble |
|---|---|---|
|
Maximum drawdown (5 years) |
-16.82% |
-17.91% |
|
$1,000 increase in 5 years |
$1,267 |
$1,229 |
what’s inside
NOBL holds about 70 stocks, with no one sector allowed more than 30% of the portfolio. The fund’s largest sector exposures are industrials (22.5%), consumer defensive (22.09%), and financial services (13.08%). Top holdings as of March 20 include beam (NYSE:CVX), ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM)And linde (NASDAQ:LIN)Each makes up less than 2% of assets. The fund has a track record of 12.4 years. This equally important approach aims to reduce concentration risk and maintain broad exposure to established dividend producers.
In contrast, SCHD has 101 names, relying more heavily on energy (19.88%), consumer defensive (18.5%), and healthcare (16.2%). Its largest positions are ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP), Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT)and Chevron, each with about 4.8%-5% of assets, creating a more top-heavy profile. Both funds avoid leverage, currency hedging and other structural quirks.
For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the complete guide this link.
What does this mean for investors
The Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF offers a much higher dividend yield than the ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF. This is because SCHD is yield-oriented, investing in stocks that offer high yields. However, the fund’s underlying index, the Dow Jones US Dividend 100™ Index, ensures that its companies have a strong dividend track record and selects its constituents using financial ratios. This means that only high-quality companies are able to be included in the ETF.
NOBL, on the other hand, focuses on dividend growth rather than yield, investing only in Dividend Aristocrats®. Dividend Aristocrats Term® is a registered trademark of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of S&P 500 Global (NYSE:SPGI). This is an exclusive group of S&P 500 companies that have increased their dividends for at least 25 consecutive years. These are established companies with strong financial positions in their respective industries that can support regular, growing dividends.
The combination of high yield with fairly low fees (expense ratio) makes SCHD a better dividend ETF to own. However, NOBL is better suited for investors seeking dividend stability, as its constituents have a long track record of growing dividends.
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Neha Chamaria No positions in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Chevron, the ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF, and S&P Global. The Motley Fool recommends ConocoPhillips, Linde, and Lockheed Martin. The Motley Fool has one Disclosure Policy.