FDL vs SCHD
First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund compared with Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF on yield, payout growth, payment schedule, cost and risk.
FDL
First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund
TTM yield · Quarterly
SCHD
Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF
TTM yield · Quarterly
Quick take
- FDL yields more today: 3.60% vs 2.94% (forward).
- FDL has grown its payout faster: 8.1%/yr vs 7.5%/yr over the last 5 years.
- Both pay every quarter.
- SCHD has the longer streak of annual increases: 8 years vs 1.
- Over the last year SCHD delivered the higher total return: +27.0% vs +22.1% (price change plus payouts).
- SCHD is cheaper to own: 0.06% vs 0.43% expense ratio.
Generated from the latest data on both pages. Not a recommendation.
Side by side
| Metric | FDL | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $52.56 | $34.40 |
| TTM yield | 3.52% | 3.05% |
| Forward yield | 3.60% | 2.94% |
| Annual payout per share | $1.892 | $1.012 |
| Payment frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Next ex-date | Sep 21, 2026 (est.) | Sep 23, 2026 (est.) |
| Expense ratio | 0.43% | 0.06% |
| 1-year payout growth | -7.3% | +2.2% |
| 5-year payout CAGR | +8.1% | +7.5% |
| Consecutive years of increases | 1 year | 8 years |
| Payout consistency (last 12) | 83/100 | 92/100 |
| 1-year total return | +22.1% | +27.0% |
| 1-year price return | +17.9% | +23.2% |
| Size (market cap / AUM) | 8.1B | 112.3B |
| Years paying | 20.2 | 14.7 |
| Sector / category | Large Value | Large Value |
✓ marks the more favourable figure where one exists (higher yield, growth, streak, consistency, return and size; lower cost, payout ratio and risk).
$10,000 invested today
| FDL | SCHD | |
|---|---|---|
| Shares | 190.3 | 290.7 |
| Income per year | $360 | $294 |
| Income per month (avg) | $30 | $25 |
At forward yields, before taxes. Model FDL · Model SCHD
Next payments
| Ex-date | Pay date | Per share | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FDL Sep 21, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 | $0.473 | Est. |
| FDL Dec 18, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | $0.473 | Est. |
| FDL Mar 16, 2027 | Mar 30, 2027 | $0.473 | Est. |
| SCHD Sep 23, 2026 | Oct 7, 2026 | $0.253 | Est. |
| SCHD Dec 23, 2026 | Jan 6, 2027 | $0.253 | Est. |
| SCHD Mar 24, 2027 | Apr 7, 2027 | $0.253 | Est. |
Annual payouts per share
FDLSCHD
Regular payments only; the current year is year to date. Per-share amounts are not directly comparable when share prices differ, so read this chart for growth trends.
FAQ
Which has the higher dividend yield, FDL or SCHD?
FDL currently has the higher trailing yield: FDL yields 3.52% and SCHD yields 3.05%. Yield changes daily with price, so check the live figures above.
How often do FDL and SCHD pay?
FDL pays every quarter and SCHD pays every quarter. FDL's next ex-date is Sep 21, 2026 and SCHD's is Sep 23, 2026.
Which has grown its dividend faster, FDL or SCHD?
FDL has grown its payout faster: 8.1%/yr vs 7.5%/yr over the last 5 years.
Is FDL or SCHD better for income?
It depends on what you are optimising for. FDL and SCHD differ in yield, growth, payment schedule and risk profile; the table above puts every metric side by side so you can weigh them for your own goals. This page is data, not advice.