Home › Explore Investing Strategies › Questions and answers › Dividends and income
$500 a month into SCHD, SPY and QQQ on the same days: results, the dividend income after 10 years, and calendar-year returns.
Putting $500 a month in for 10 years from October 2016 ended at $113,521 in SCHD, $136,164 in SPY and $180,486 in QQQ. The annual return (IRR) was 12.3%, 15.7% and 20.9%.
At the as-of share count and the prior 12 months of dividends, the yearly income was $3,687 for SCHD, $1,356 for SPY and $755 for QQQ, before tax. The yields were 3.2%, 1.0% and 0.4%.
Of 120 five-year windows since 2011, monthly investing in SCHD ended higher than SPY in 23% and higher than QQQ in 7%.
In the years SPY lost money, the returns were 2018: SCHD −5.6%, SPY −4.6%; 2022: SCHD −3.3%, SPY −18.2%.
| Case | Put in | End balance | Return | Annual return (IRR) | Max drawdown | Max loss vs. money in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCHD full periodNov 2011 to Sep 2026 | $89,500 | $241,169 | +169.5% | 12.3% | −33.4% | −3.9% |
| SPY full periodNov 2011 to Sep 2026 | $89,500 | $297,698 | +232.6% | 14.8% | −33.7% | −4.8% |
| QQQ full periodNov 2011 to Sep 2026 | $89,500 | $470,335 | +425.5% | 20.0% | −35.1% | −6.6% |
| SCHD 10 yearsOct 2016 to Sep 2026 | $60,000 | $113,521 | +89.2% | 12.3% | −33.4% | −15.8% |
| SPY 10 yearsOct 2016 to Sep 2026 | $60,000 | $136,164 | +126.9% | 15.7% | −33.7% | −12.8% |
| QQQ 10 yearsOct 2016 to Sep 2026 | $60,000 | $180,486 | +200.8% | 20.9% | −35.1% | −3.7% |
| SCHD 5 yearsOct 2021 to Sep 2026 | $30,000 | $40,530 | +35.1% | 12.0% | −17.0% | −11.2% |
| SPY 5 yearsOct 2021 to Sep 2026 | $30,000 | $46,861 | +56.2% | 17.9% | −24.6% | −17.1% |
| QQQ 5 yearsOct 2021 to Sep 2026 | $30,000 | $54,046 | +80.2% | 23.8% | −35.3% | −24.0% |
| End balance | Dividend yield | Yearly income | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCHD | $113,521 | 3.2% | $3,687 |
| SPY | $136,164 | 1.0% | $1,356 |
| QQQ | $180,486 | 0.4% | $755 |
| Year | SCHD | SPY | QQQ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | +11.4% | +16.0% | +18.1% |
| 2013 | +32.9% | +32.3% | +36.6% |
| 2014 | +11.7% | +13.5% | +19.2% |
| 2015 | −0.3% | +1.2% | +9.4% |
| 2016 | +16.4% | +12.0% | +7.1% |
| 2017 | +20.9% | +21.7% | +32.7% |
| 2018 | −5.6% | −4.6% | −0.1% |
| 2019 | +27.3% | +31.2% | +39.0% |
| 2020 | +15.0% | +18.3% | +48.6% |
| 2021 | +29.9% | +28.7% | +27.4% |
| 2022 | −3.3% | −18.2% | −32.6% |
| 2023 | +4.5% | +26.2% | +54.9% |
| 2024 | +11.7% | +24.9% | +25.6% |
| 2025 | +4.3% | +17.7% | +20.8% |
| Value | |
|---|---|
| Five-year windows | 120 |
| SCHD ended higher than SPY | 23% |
| SCHD ended higher than QQQ | 7% |
You can change the ticker, period and monthly amount and calculate the same way. No sign-in needed.
SPY lost money in 2018 and 2022. The returns were 2018: SCHD −5.6%, SPY −4.6%; 2022: SCHD −3.3%, SPY −18.2%. Over the 10 years of monthly investing, the max drawdown was 33.4% for SCHD, 33.7% for SPY and 35.1% for QQQ.
After 10 years, the yearly income was $3,687 for SCHD, $1,356 for SPY and $755 for QQQ. The highest end balance was QQQ.
In 4 of 14 years from 2012 to 2025.
In this SCHD, SPY and QQQ calculation, the returns stay almost the same and only the amounts scale. Only the basket method, which buys whole shares, differs a little.
Yes. This SCHD, SPY and QQQ calculation reinvests each dividend at the price on its ex-dividend date. Taxes on dividends are not deducted.
No. This SCHD, SPY and QQQ calculation is in US dollars. Exchange rate changes and the fee and tax differences of locally listed ETFs are not included.
These results are calculated from past prices. They do not guarantee future returns and do not recommend any product.
