Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF (SCHA) Performance
SCHA total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +15.0% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +16.6% total return
- 5 years
- +5.9% a year
- 10 years
- +10.3% a year
- Since first price
- +11.9% a year since 2009
SCHA trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | SCHA total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −1.9% | −1.9% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −4.8% | −5.0% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +2.0% | +1.4% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +15.0% | +14.2% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +16.6% | +15.2% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +74.4%+20.4%/yr | +67.4% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +33.3%+5.9%/yr | +24.4% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +166.2%+10.3%/yr | +131.7% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +406.6%+11.4%/yr | +309.6% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionNov 3, 2009 | +569.5%+11.9%/yr | +429.2% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: SCHA vs SPY
From Nov 3, 2009: SCHA grew to $66,948, SPY to $98,074.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
SCHA returns by calendar year
12 of 16 full years positive. Best 2013 (+39.5%), worst 2022 (−19.8%). 2026 is year to date.
SCHA annual returns table
| Year | SCHA | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +15.0% | −11.2% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +11.6% | −24.3% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +11.2% | −9.1% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +18.5% | −17.0% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −19.8% | −26.7% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +16.5% | −11.3% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +19.3% | −42.4% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +26.5% | −8.7% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −11.8% | −26.4% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +14.9% | −5.7% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +20.0% | −13.4% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −4.2% | −15.5% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +6.5% | −12.2% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +39.5% | −4.9% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +18.3% | −12.4% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −3.1% | −28.4% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +28.6% | −20.0% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
SCHA largest drawdowns
Now 9.7% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 16, 2020 | −42.4% | Mar 23, 2020 | Nov 9, 2020 | 2 months | 10 months |
| Nov 8, 2021 | −30.8% | Jun 16, 2022 | Oct 16, 2024 | 7 months | 2.9 years |
| Apr 29, 2011 | −28.4% | Oct 3, 2011 | Sep 6, 2012 | 5 months | 1.4 years |
| Nov 25, 2024 | −27.3% | Apr 8, 2025 | Sep 18, 2025 | 4 months | 10 months |
| Aug 31, 2018 | −26.4% | Dec 24, 2018 | Jan 15, 2020 | 4 months | 1.4 years |
| Jun 23, 2015 | −25.0% | Feb 11, 2016 | Nov 11, 2016 | 8 months | 1.4 years |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
SCHA risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +18.0% | +6.9% | +10.1% | +11.8% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.2% | 20.6% | 20.8% | 19.2% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.73 | 0.25 | 0.46 | 0.61 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.25 | 0.39 | 0.69 | 0.95 |
| Best month | +11.9% | +11.9% | +17.9% | +17.9% |
| Worst month | −7.7% | −9.9% | −23.0% | −23.0% |
| Best 12 months | +44.5% | +44.5% | +95.7% | +95.7% |
| Worst 12 months | −3.4% | −23.5% | −25.1% | −25.1% |
| Positive months | 61% | 53% | 62% | 63% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.22 | 1.11 | 1.18 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.79 | 0.85 | 0.87 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
SCHA rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 192 | −25.1% | +11.4% | +95.7% | 76% |
| 3-year (a year) | 168 | −5.1% | +10.5% | +23.3% | 97% |
| 5-year (a year) | 144 | −0.7% | +9.5% | +18.3% | 99% |
| 10-year (a year) | 84 | +6.0% | +9.8% | +14.9% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2009. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
SCHA performance overview
Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF (SCHA) returned +16.6% over the past year and +10.3% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2009 it has returned +11.9% a year, turning $10,000 into about $66,948. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −42.4%, from Jan 16, 2020 to Mar 23, 2020, and it took 8 months to get back to the old high. SCHA finished 12 of its 16 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2013 (+39.5%) and the worst 2022 (−19.8%). Volatility has been 19.2% a year.
Related: SCHA chart, SCHA holdings, SCHA dividends, SCHA valuation. See the SCHA overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
SCHA performance FAQ
What is the SCHA return over the past year?
SCHA returned +16.6% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 15.2%.
What is the average annual return of SCHA?
SCHA has returned +5.9% a year over 5 years, +10.3% a year over 10 years, +11.9% a year since November 3, 2009 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in SCHA be worth?
$10,000 invested in SCHA at its first recorded close on November 3, 2009 would be worth about $66,948 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for SCHA?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −19.8%. The best was 2013 at +39.5%.
What is the biggest drawdown of SCHA?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −42.4% between January 16, 2020 and March 23, 2020. It recovered to the old high on November 9, 2020, 8 months after the bottom.
How volatile is SCHA?
Over the past 3 years SCHA had an annualized volatility of 19.2% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.73 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).