COWG vs VXUS
Pacer US Large Cap Cash Cows Growth Leaders ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, COWG or VXUS?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. COWG led over 3Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y.
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 | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $2.3B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.37% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 102 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +11.96% | +15.57%Best |
| 1Y Return | +13.85% | +27.46%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.27%Best | +20.30% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +8.96% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.6% | 12.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -23.6% | -13.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.7 years | $20,029Best | $18,898 |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 21, 2022 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
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 3, 2026 (3.7 years).
COWG vs VXUS 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 VXUS Performance
Pacer US Large Cap Cash Cows Growth Leaders ETF (COWG) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year COWG returned +13.85% while VXUS returned +27.46%. Year to date, COWG is up 11.96% versus a gain of 15.57% for VXUS.
Over three years, COWG compounded at +21.27% per year against +20.30% for VXUS. Across the full 4-year window we track, COWG has the edge at +20.65% annualized vs +18.77%.
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 12.7% for VXUS. 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 -13.6% for VXUS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.57. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
COWG charges 0.49% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $5 annually, a gap of $44 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, COWG currently yields 0.37% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.0% of COWG's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 87.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in COWG and 8,094 in VXUS, against full books of 102 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in COWG | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMAntero Midstream Corporationam | 0.98% | 0.01% | 0.97% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of COWG and VXUS 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 VXUS?
COWG has an expense ratio of 0.49% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $44 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, COWG or VXUS?
Over the past year COWG returned +13.85% vs +27.46% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), COWG annualized +20.65% vs +18.77% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, COWG or VXUS?
COWG has been the more volatile fund at 15.6% annualized versus 12.7% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: COWG -23.6% vs VXUS -13.6%.
Should I hold both COWG and VXUS?
COWG and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.57, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, COWG or VXUS?
COWG yields 0.37% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than COWG?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. COWG led over 3Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.