QUAL vs SCHD: which was the better investment?
iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF against Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Jul 18, 2013 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did QUAL beat SCHD?
Yes — measured from Jul 18, 2013 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, QUAL came out ahead: $52,785 versus $43,087 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 13.7% annual return against 11.9%.
What would $10,000 in QUAL be worth today?
$10,000 invested in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) on Jul 18, 2013 would be worth about $52,785 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 427.9% (13.7% per year). The same $10,000 in SCHD would be worth $43,087.
Which was riskier — QUAL or SCHD?
QUAL swung with an annualized volatility of 17.1% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -34.1%; SCHD ran at 15.8% volatility with a -33.4% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.68 for QUAL vs 0.63 for SCHD.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Jul 18, 2013 through Jul 15, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with QUAL vs SCHD. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.