JEPI vs SCHD Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
JEPI and SCHD serve very different income strategies. JEPI maximizes current income (7-10% monthly) at the cost of equity upside, higher fees, and variable distribution rates. SCHD offers lower current yield (3-4%) that grows significantly over time, full equity upside, and much lower costs. JEPI is for investors who need maximum income today; SCHD is for investors building growing income over the long term.
JEPI and SCHD represent different income philosophies — maximum yield today (JEPI) versus growing yield over time (SCHD) — investors must determine which income profile matches their financial situation and time horizon.
SCHD holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. SCHD has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+27.20% vs +7.02% for JEPI).
- need maximum monthly income immediately — retirees or near-retirees living off portfolio distributions
- are comfortable with capped equity upside in exchange for 7-10% yield
- value monthly income payments for budgeting and cash flow management
- want some equity exposure with reduced volatility versus pure equity ETFs
- want income that grows at 11-13% annually, eventually exceeding JEPI's yield on original investment
- prefer full equity market upside participation without covered call limitations
- value low 0.06% expense ratio for cost-efficient dividend growth compounding
- are 10+ years from needing maximum income and can wait for dividends to grow
| Metric | JEPI | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| ETF scorei | 57.0 | 88.0 |
| Latest closei | $56.24 | $33.68 |
| 1M returni | -2.34% | -4.02% |
| 6M returni | +4.57% | +12.65% |
| 1Y returni | +7.02% | +27.20% |
The ETF score weights long-term returns and risk-adjusted performance most heavily, but still rewards low expense ratios, larger fund size, and broader diversification — so it can favor low-cost, broad, mega-cap funds over smaller thematic or actively-managed funds even when the latter have delivered stronger returns.
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | JEPI | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $11.63K (+16.3%) started 2025-09-18 | $13.19K (+31.9%) started 2025-09-18 |
| 5Y ago | $24.53K (+145.3%) started 2021-09-20 | $19.7K (+97.0%) started 2021-09-20 |
| 10Y ago | $39.08K (+290.8%) started 2020-05-21 | $50.11K (+401.1%) started 2016-09-19 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | JEPI | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratioi | 0.35% | 0.06% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $46.16B | $112.34B |
| Dividend yieldi | 7.97% | 3.00% |
| Trailing P/Ei | 25.00 | 18.59 |
| Betai | 0.53 | 0.71 |
| 52-week change | 7.02% | 27.20% |
| Metric | JEPI | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y returni | +7.02% | +27.20% |
| 6M returni | +4.57% | +12.65% |
| 1M returni | -2.34% | -4.02% |
| 1Y Sharpe ratio | 0.33 | 1.81 |
| Betai | 0.53 | 0.71 |
| Dividend yieldi | 7.97% | 3.00% |
| 5Y CAGR | +7.46% | +10.16% |
Over the past year, JEPI and SCHD have moved moderately in the same direction (correlation of 0.64), based on daily returns.
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | JEPI | SCHD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growthi | +7.02% | +27.20% |
| CAGRi | +7.02% | +27.22% | |
| Volatilityi | 8.05% | 11.18% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.33 | 1.81 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.47 | 2.99 | |
| Max drawdowni | 6.68% | 4.61% | |
| Current drawdowni | 2.67% | 4.35% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 1.68% | 1.26% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 2.40% | 1.75% | |
| Max daily dropi | 1.61% | 1.84% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 2.46% | 3.17% | |
| 5Y | Growthi | +43.26% | +62.12% |
| CAGRi | +7.46% | +10.16% | |
| Volatilityi | 11.09% | 14.38% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.30 | 0.43 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.42 | 0.62 | |
| Max drawdowni | 13.71% | 16.84% | |
| Current drawdowni | 2.67% | 4.35% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 2.49% | 4.38% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 3.73% | 5.69% | |
| Max daily dropi | 5.56% | 5.42% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 9.92% | 12.74% | |
| 10Y | Growthi | +92.75% | +237.28% |
| CAGRi | +10.93% | +12.93% | |
| Volatilityi | 10.65% | 16.72% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.61 | 0.54 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.85 | 0.77 | |
| Max drawdowni | 13.71% | 33.37% | |
| Current drawdowni | 2.67% | 4.35% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 2.10% | 3.99% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 3.36% | 5.83% | |
| Max daily dropi | 5.56% | 9.95% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 9.92% | 18.00% |
| Category | JEPI | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Fund name | JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF | Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF |
| Type | ETF | ETF |
| Expense ratioi | 0.35% | 0.06% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $46.16B | $112.34B |
| Dividend yieldi | 7.97% | 3.00% |
- 7-10% annual yield paid monthly appeals to retirees and income-focused investors
- Lower volatility stock selection provides some portfolio stability in down markets
- Covered call premium provides income even in flat or sideways markets
- Dividend growth of 11-13% annually compounds income significantly for long-term holders
- Full equity upside participation unlike JEPI's capped covered call structure
- 0.06% expense ratio is 5.8x lower than JEPI's 0.35%
- Capped upside — JEPI significantly underperforms pure equity ETFs in strong bull markets
- 0.35% expense ratio is significantly higher than SCHD's 0.06%
- Yield is variable — distributions can decrease when options premiums fall in low-volatility markets
- Lower current yield (3-4%) than JEPI's 7-10% for investors who need immediate high income
- Quarterly rather than monthly distribution for investors who prefer monthly income cadence
- More volatile than JEPI's lower-volatility stock selection approach
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