COWG vs SCHD
Pacer US Large Cap Cash Cows Growth Leaders ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, COWG or SCHD?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. COWG led over 3Y and the full window, SCHD over 1Y. COWG is less concentrated, with 29.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | COWG | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $2.3B | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.37% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 102 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +12.18% | +27.56%Best |
| 1Y Return | +13.53% | +30.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.33%Best | +16.37% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.23% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.6% | 13.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -23.6% | -16.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.7 years | $20,059Best | $15,697 |
| Top 10 Weight | 29.3%Best | 41.5% |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 21, 2022 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 23, 2022 to Sep 4, 2026 (3.7 years).
COWG vs SCHD growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 3.7 years both funds cover.
COWG vs SCHD Performance
Pacer US Large Cap Cash Cows Growth Leaders ETF (COWG) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year COWG returned +13.53% while SCHD returned +30.29%. Year to date, COWG is up 12.18% versus a gain of 27.56% for SCHD.
Over three years, COWG compounded at +21.33% per year against +16.37% for SCHD. Across the full 4-year window we track, COWG has the edge at +20.70% annualized vs +12.96%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
COWG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.6% compared with 13.0% for SCHD. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -23.6% for COWG and -16.1% for SCHD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.41. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
COWG charges 0.49% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $6 annually, a gap of $43 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, COWG currently yields 0.37% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
4.8% of COWG's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 13.9% of SCHD's money is in holdings COWG also owns.
SCHD and COWG share little of their money.
5 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in COWG and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 102 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 94 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for COWG (86.0% of the fund), and 95 for COWG that do not appear in SCHD (94.3%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of COWG and SCHD you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, COWG or SCHD?
COWG has an expense ratio of 0.49% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $43 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, COWG or SCHD?
Over the past year COWG returned +13.53% vs +30.29% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), COWG annualized +20.70% vs +12.96% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, COWG or SCHD?
COWG has been the more volatile fund at 15.6% annualized versus 13.0% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: COWG -23.6% vs SCHD -16.1%.
Should I hold both COWG and SCHD?
COWG and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.41, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between COWG and SCHD?
13.9% of SCHD's money is in holdings COWG also owns. 13.9% of SCHD's is in holdings COWG also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in COWG and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, COWG or SCHD?
COWG yields 0.37% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than COWG?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. COWG led over 3Y and the full window, SCHD over 1Y. COWG is less concentrated, with 29.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.