How This Popular ETF Went From Laggard to Top 1% in Its Category

Core Viewpoint - The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF has rebounded significantly in 2026, becoming the top-performing U.S. dividend ETF after a challenging period from 2023 to 2025 [1][4]. Performance Overview - The ETF has grown to over $85 billion in assets, making it the second largest dividend ETF globally, with eight consecutive years of strong performance in the top one-third of Morningstar's Large Value category [2]. - Despite its previous success, the ETF underperformed during the tech-driven market from 2023 to 2025, particularly due to overweights in energy and consumer staples, leading to bottom-quartile performance [3]. Sector Allocation - In 2026, the ETF's allocation is well-aligned with market trends, with nearly 40% of its investments in energy (20%) and consumer staples (19%) [6][7]. - Energy stocks have increased by approximately 27% this year, while consumer staples have risen by 15%, significantly contributing to the fund's returns [7]. Investment Strategy - The ETF maintains a deep value tilt with a price-to-earnings ratio of 18, which is favorable compared to the Schwab U.S. Large Cap ETF's P/E of 28 [9]. - The fund's underweights in the four worst-performing sectors—financials, technology, consumer discretionary, and communication services—position it advantageously in the current market [10]. Fund Characteristics - The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF focuses on large, financially healthy, cash-generating companies, which tend to perform well during market stress [11].