COWG vs VOO
Pacer US Large Cap Cash Cows Growth Leaders ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, COWG or VOO?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. COWG led over 3Y, VOO over 1Y and the full window. COWG is less concentrated, with 27.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.6%.
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 | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $2.3B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.35% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 102 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +10.64% | +11.98%Best |
| 1Y Return | +8.65% | +16.45%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.67%Best | +21.19% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.95% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.7% | 12.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -23.6% | -18.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.7 years | $19,681 | $20,732Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 27.8%Best | 37.6% |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 21, 2022 | Sep 7, 2010 |
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 14, 2026 (3.7 years).
COWG vs VOO 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 VOO Performance
Pacer US Large Cap Cash Cows Growth Leaders ETF (COWG) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year COWG returned +8.65% while VOO returned +16.45%. Year to date, COWG is up 10.64% versus a gain of 11.98% for VOO.
Over three years, COWG compounded at +21.67% per year against +21.19% for VOO. Across the full 4-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +21.78% annualized vs +20.08%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
COWG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.7% compared with 12.5% for VOO. 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 -18.7% for VOO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
COWG charges 0.49% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $3 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, COWG currently yields 0.35% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
65.3% of COWG's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 27.6% of VOO's money is in holdings COWG also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
64 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in COWG and 494 in VOO, against full books of 102 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 101 and 494 positions we hold weights for.
VOO holds 423 positions COWG does not, 71.5% of the fund.
Largest: MSFT 5.36%, AMZN 4.13%, GOOGL 3.24%, GOOG 2.62%, META 1.90%
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in COWG | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 1.09% | 7.55% | 6.46% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 0.89% | 7.05% | 6.16% |
| SNDKSandisk Corp/De | 4.03% | 0.28% | 3.75% |
| WDCWestern Digital Corp Company Guar 11/28 3 | 3.53% | 0.29% | 3.24% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 0.81% | 2.86% | 2.05% |
| LRCXLrcx Uw Equity | 2.63% | 0.57% | 2.06% |
| PANWPalo Alto Networks, Inc | 2.20% | 0.42% | 1.78% |
| FTNTFortinet Inc | 2.35% | 0.16% | 2.19% |
| CRWDCrowdstrike Holdings Inc | 2.04% | 0.30% | 1.74% |
| KLACKla Corp | 1.69% | 0.37% | 1.32% |
65.3% of COWG is already inside VOO.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, COWG or VOO?
COWG has an expense ratio of 0.49% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, COWG or VOO?
Over the past year COWG returned +8.65% vs +16.45% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), COWG annualized +20.08% vs +21.78% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, COWG or VOO?
COWG has been the more volatile fund at 15.7% annualized versus 12.5% for VOO. Worst drawdown: COWG -23.6% vs VOO -18.7%.
Should I hold both COWG and VOO?
COWG and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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 VOO?
65.3% of COWG's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 27.6% of VOO's is in holdings COWG also owns. They hold 64 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in COWG and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, COWG or VOO?
COWG yields 0.35% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than COWG?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. COWG led over 3Y, VOO over 1Y and the full window. COWG is less concentrated, with 27.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.