DIVO vs SCHD: fees, holdings and returns

DIVO holds about 30 large US dividend-paying companies picked by its managers, and sometimes sells options on them for extra income. SCHD holds about 100 US companies picked by an index for steady dividends and strong finances. DIVO charges a much higher fee. Over the same dates since December 2016, DIVO returned about 12.7% a year and SCHD returned about 12.9% a year.

Written by the Tactfolio research team. Fund facts checked October 17, 2026. Prices through October 20, 2026.

DIVO

Yearly fee
0.56%
about $56 on $10,000
Return per year
12.7%
since December 2016
Worst drop
−30.0%
since 2016
Started trading
Dec 2016
Amplify ETFs

SCHD

Yearly fee
0.06%
about $6 on $10,000
Return per year
12.9%
since December 2016
Worst drop
−33.4%
since 2016
Started trading
Oct 2011
Schwab

Key points

  • SCHD costs less: 0.06% a year against 0.56%.
  • DIVO started trading in December 2016. SCHD started in October 2011.
  • Worst drops since 2016: DIVO −30.0%, SCHD −33.4%.
  • Daily correlation: 0.85 (1 means they always move together).

What is the difference between DIVO and SCHD?#

SCHD follows set rules and holds its companies until the index changes. DIVO’s managers pick a short list and sell call options on some holdings when they choose, which brings in cash but gives away some of the gain if a stock jumps. DIVO pays monthly and SCHD every three months. With only about 30 stocks, DIVO’s results depend more on a few companies and on its managers.

FactDIVOSCHD
Full nameAmplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETFSchwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF
IssuerAmplify ETFsSchwab
Expense ratio0.56% a year0.06% a year
Started tradingDecember 13, 2016October 20, 2011
TracksNo index (actively managed)Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index
Holdings30 holdings as of October 16, 202698 holdings as of February 28, 2026
TypeUS stocks, ETFUS stocks, ETF

Fund facts checked on the Amplify ETFs DIVO page and the Schwab SCHD page.

Is DIVO or SCHD cheaper?#

SCHD costs less: 0.06% a year against 0.56%. On $10,000, that is about $56 a year for DIVO and $6 for SCHD. The fund takes its fee out of its own value a little each day, so you never get a bill.

DIVO vs SCHD performance over the same dates#

$10k$20k20172019202120232025
DIVOSCHDGrowth of $10,000, log scale, with dividends reinvested. Past results do not tell you what happens next.

Both funds are measured from December 2016 to October 2026, the dates both traded. DIVO returned about 12.7% a year and SCHD returned about 12.9% a year. SCHD came out ahead over this period, which does not mean it will again.

MeasureDIVOSCHD
$10,000 grew to$32,468$32,957
Total return224.7%229.6%
Return per year (CAGR)12.7%12.9%
Worst drop from a high−30.0%−33.4%
Volatility (how much it swings)14.6%16.8%
Last 12 months14.6%33.0%
Last 3 years, per year17.8%18.8%
Last 5 years, per year11.1%9.7%

Prices through October 20, 2026. Figures use daily closing prices adjusted for splits, with dividends reinvested. They do not include taxes or the cost of buying and selling. Past results do not tell you what will happen next.

DIVO and SCHD returns by year#

YearDIVOSCHD
2026 (part of the year)11.9%29.6%
202517.4%4.3%
202416.2%11.7%
20237.0%4.5%
2022−1.5%−3.3%
202122.9%29.9%
202012.4%15.0%
201924.9%27.3%
2018−3.2%−5.6%
201721.4%20.8%
2016 (part of the year)−0.5%−0.5%

Which fell further in bad times?#

A drawdown is how far a fund falls from its last high point. DIVO’s worst fall was −30.0%, from January 17, 2020 to March 23, 2020. It got back to that high on August 12, 2020.

SCHD’s worst fall was −33.4%, from January 23, 2020 to March 23, 2020. It got back to that high on September 2, 2020.

Their daily moves had a correlation of 0.85. A correlation of 1 means two funds always move up and down together. Near 0 means they move on their own. So they often move together, but not always.

Why people choose DIVO or SCHD#

DIVO. People who want monthly income from dividends and options, picked by managers, tend to pick DIVO.

SCHD. People who want dividends from a rules-based index at a very low fee tend to pick SCHD.

Strategies that hold DIVO or SCHD#

No classic strategy holds DIVO or SCHD yet.

Other funds like DIVO and SCHD#

Each fund has more funds that hold the same kind of investments, ranked by how closely they move with it: DIVO alternatives and SCHD alternatives.

Test a mix of DIVO and SCHD#

Open the builder, add DIVO and SCHD, and give each a weight, such as 50% and 50%. The backtest shows how the mix would have done, with its worst drop, on daily prices. You can also add a rule, for example to switch between them, and compare. Read the full pages for DIVO and SCHD, or see more ETF comparisons.

The details#

Both funds use Tactfolio’s stored daily prices, adjusted for splits, with dividends reinvested. They are compared only on days both traded, starting the later fund’s first day, so neither gets a head start. Correlation uses daily returns over the same days. Read what a backtest simulates for more on these measures.

Common questions#

What is a covered call?#

A covered call means selling someone the right to buy a stock you own at a set price. You get cash now, but if the stock rises past that price, you give up the gain above it.

How often do DIVO and SCHD pay?#

DIVO pays every month. SCHD pays every three months.

Which is cheaper, DIVO or SCHD?#

SCHD costs less: 0.06% a year against 0.56%. Fees come from each issuer and were checked on October 17, 2026.

Which did better, DIVO or SCHD?#

From December 2016 to October 2026, DIVO returned about 12.7% a year and SCHD returned about 12.9% a year, with dividends reinvested. Their worst drops were −30.0% and −33.4%. Past returns do not tell you what comes next.

Sources#