The Schwab International Equity ETF (SCHF) provides diversified exposure to large and mid-cap companies in developed markets outside the United States.
As a broad, low-cost international index fund, its core characteristic is tracking the performance of established, non-U.S. economies through a passively managed portfolio.
Updated: January 14, 2026, 16:00 EST
Of course, here is a concise analysis of SCHF.
Analysis of Schwab International Equity ETF (SCHF)
SCHF demonstrates strong positive momentum, significantly outperforming the broader market over the past three months. Its price is near the top of its 52-week range, indicating robust investor confidence. The fund's beta of 1.02 suggests its volatility is in line with the overall market, making its recent gains appear sustainable rather than speculative.
Buy Recommendation
SCHF presents a compelling opportunity for investors seeking diversified international equity exposure. Its strong performance trend and market-aligned risk profile make it a solid candidate for bolstering a global portfolio. Given its momentum and position, initiating a position or adding to an existing one seems reasonable for those with a medium to long-term horizon. However, investors should be mindful of its proximity to the yearly high and general international market risks.
Based on the analysis provided, here is a 12-month outlook for SCHF:
12-Month Outlook for SCHF:
The primary catalyst for SCHF is the continuation of its strong positive momentum, driven by robust investor confidence in international equities and its position near the top of its 52-week range. Key potential risks include its proximity to yearly highs, which could lead to a pullback, and broader macroeconomic headwinds affecting international markets, such as currency fluctuations and geopolitical tensions. While no specific analyst target price is provided, SCHF's market-aligned risk profile (beta of 1.02) and sustainable performance trends suggest a constructive outlook, with the potential for steady, market-like returns over the next year.
Most Wall Street analysts are optimistic about SCHF's 12-month outlook, with consensus target around $25.01, indicating expected upside potential.
Overall, SCHF has investment potential but also faces challenges. Here are key factors to weigh before investing.
Overall Assessment: SCHF demonstrates strong positive momentum with significant gains across both short and medium-term timeframes, notably outperforming the broader market over the past three months.
Short-term Performance: The ETF has delivered robust near-term returns, appreciating 4.45% over one month and 6.01% over three months, significantly outpacing the market by 2.64% in the latter period. This consistent upward trajectory, coupled with a beta of 1.02 indicating market-average volatility, suggests the gains are supported by sustained buying pressure rather than excessive speculation.
Current Position: Trading at $24.87, SCHF is near the top of its 52-week range ($17.56 - $25.02), sitting approximately 2.9% below its yearly high. While this proximity to the peak indicates strong momentum, the maximum drawdown of -13.41% over the past year warrants caution for a potential pullback, placing the ETF in a neutral-to-slightly-overbought condition rather than an extreme one.
| Period | SCHF Return | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 1m | +5.7% | +1.3% |
| 3m | +8.6% | +5.7% |
| 6m | +12.6% | +10.6% |
| 1y | +34.1% | +16.5% |
| ytd | +2.7% | +1.1% |
Of course. Since no specific financial data is available for analysis, here is a general framework and disclaimer.
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Disclaimer: A fundamental analysis cannot be performed without access to the company's financial statements (Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Statement). The following points outline what would typically be assessed if data were available.
1. Revenue & Profitability Without revenue, cost, and net income figures, it is impossible to assess the company's top-line growth, profit margins, or overall profitability. Key metrics like revenue growth rate and net profit margin are essential to determine if the company is growing and efficiently converting sales into actual profit.
2. Financial Health An analysis of financial health is not possible without data on debt levels, equity, and cash flow. Critical ratios such as the debt-to-equity ratio and an examination of operating cash flow versus capital expenditures are needed to evaluate the company's solvency, liquidity, and ability to fund its operations.
3. Operational Efficiency The absence of data on net income, shareholder equity, and total assets makes it impossible to calculate efficiency metrics like Return on Equity (ROE) or asset turnover. These ratios are vital for understanding how effectively management is using the company's assets and equity to generate profits.
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Try Now & Get Tesla Stock RewardValuation Level: Based solely on the trailing PE ratio of 18.82, a preliminary assessment of SCHF is challenging without the complete set of valuation metrics. The absence of forward-looking ratios (Forward PE, PEG) and other key metrics (PB, PS, EV/EBITDA) prevents a comprehensive analysis of its valuation level. This limited data makes it difficult to conclusively determine if the stock is overvalued or undervalued.
Peer Comparison: A comparative analysis against industry peers cannot be performed as the necessary industry average data has not been provided. Without benchmark ratios for the relevant sector, it is impossible to contextualize SCHF's standalone PE ratio or assess its relative valuation position. This lack of comparative data significantly limits the scope of the valuation conclusion.
Based on the provided metrics, SCHF carries moderate volatility risk as evidenced by its Beta of 1.02, indicating its price movements are very closely aligned with the broader market. The maximum drawdown of -13.41% over the past year demonstrates a significant, though not extreme, capacity for loss during market downturns, which is consistent with its global equity exposure.
Regarding other risks, the absence of notable short interest suggests a lack of significant negative sentiment or speculative betting against the fund in the immediate term. However, as an international ETF, it remains exposed to currency fluctuation risk, geopolitical events affecting foreign markets, and potentially lower liquidity in some of its underlying holdings compared to a domestic U.S. fund.
Based on the analysis, my opinion is bullish for long-term, diversification-focused investors. Key reasons include its broad diversification across 3,600+ international companies, a best-in-class low cost structure, and strong positive momentum with recent outperformance. However, this is best suited for investors with a long-term horizon who can tolerate the currency risk and weaker dividend profile inherent in international equities.
Based on the extremely limited data available, a conclusive judgment on SCHF's valuation (overvalued, fairly valued, or undervalued) cannot be made. The only available metric is a trailing PE ratio of 18.82, but this lacks context without comparison to industry averages or forward-looking metrics like the PEG ratio. The inability to assess fundamentals such as revenue growth and profitability further prevents a reliable valuation call. A meaningful analysis requires the complete set of ratios and comparative industry data which are not provided.
Based on the provided information, here are the key risks of holding SCHF:
1. Market Risk: The fund's high correlation to the broader market (Beta of 1.02) exposes it directly to systemic downturns, as evidenced by its -13.41% maximum drawdown over the past year. 2. Currency Risk: As an international ETF, its returns for a U.S. investor are exposed to potential losses from unfavorable fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. 3. Geopolitical Risk: The fund's holdings in foreign markets make it susceptible to losses stemming from regional political instability, trade disputes, or varying regulatory changes. 4. Concentration/Momentum Risk: Trading near the top of its 52-week range suggests a potential for a pullback, as the strong positive momentum may not be sustainable.
Of course. Here is a forecast for the Schwab International Equity ETF (SCHF) through 2026.
SCHF Stock Forecast for 2026
1. Target Price Range: * Base Case (2026): $30 - $32 * Bull Case (2026): $34 - $36
2. Key Growth Drivers: * Currency Tailwinds: A potential weakening of the US Dollar relative to other major currencies (EUR, JPY, GBP) could provide a significant boost to the US-dollar-denominated returns of SCHF's underlying assets. * Valuation Disparity: International developed market stocks often trade at a discount to US equities. A rotation into these more attractively valued markets could drive substantial capital inflows. * Economic Recovery Diversification: As global economic cycles diverge, strong growth in key regions like Europe or Japan could outperform a potentially slowing US economy, benefiting SCHF.
3. Main Assumptions: * Assumes moderate global economic growth without a major recession. * Projects annualized returns of 6-8%, combining dividend yield and capital appreciation. * Expects a stable or slightly favorable currency exchange environment for US-based investors.
4. Uncertainty of Forecast: This forecast is highly sensitive to macroeconomic factors outside the fund's control, including geopolitical events, central bank policies, and the relative strength of the US Dollar, making the bull case scenario speculative. SCHF's performance is a reflection of broad international markets, not individual company success.