SCHD ETF continues to disappoint: buy SPYI instead?

Core Viewpoint - The Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) has underperformed compared to high-growth technology stocks and alternative funds like the NEOS S&P 500 High Income ETF (SPYI) in 2023, leading to a recommendation for SPYI as a better investment option [1][5]. Performance Comparison - The SCHD ETF has a total return of 4.68% in 2023, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 indices have increased by 22% and 17%, respectively [1]. - Over the past three years, SCHD's return was only 20%, significantly lower than the Nasdaq 100's 120% and the S&P 500's 78% [2]. Sector Composition - SCHD is primarily composed of companies in traditional industries, with energy being the largest sector at approximately 20% of its holdings [3]. - Other significant sectors in SCHD include consumer staples, healthcare, and industrials, which have faced challenges due to external factors like tariffs [4]. Comparison with SPYI - The NEOS S&P 500 High Income ETF (SPYI) offers a higher yield of 12% and has outperformed SCHD with a three-year return of 58% compared to SCHD's 20% [5][6]. - In 2023, SPYI returned 15%, significantly higher than SCHD's 4.98% [6]. Investment Strategy - SPYI employs a covered call strategy, investing in S&P 500 companies and writing call options to generate monthly premiums for dividends [7]. - SPYI also utilizes tax loss harvesting to enhance returns, which contributes to its superior performance compared to other covered call ETFs [7]. Recommendations - Analysts recommend SPYI as a preferable option for investors seeking dividend income, especially given its historical performance and higher yield compared to SCHD [8].