COWZ vs QQQ
Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, COWZ or QQQ?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. COWZ is less concentrated, with 21.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%.
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 | COWZ | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $20.0B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.72% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 102 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +15.37% | +17.21%Best |
| 1Y Return | +21.65% | +22.10%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.91% | +25.27%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.26% | +14.60%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.7%Best | 19.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -38.6% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,049 | $19,766Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 21.4%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Dec 16, 2016 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 19, 2016 to Sep 17, 2026 (9.7 years).
COWZ vs QQQ 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 9.7 years both funds cover.
COWZ vs QQQ Performance
Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF (COWZ) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year COWZ returned +21.65% while QQQ returned +22.10%. Year to date, COWZ is up 15.37% versus a gain of 17.21% for QQQ.
Over three years, COWZ compounded at +12.91% per year against +25.27% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +11.26% and +14.60% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +20.53% annualized vs +13.12%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.2% compared with 18.7% for COWZ. 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 -38.6% for COWZ and -35.1% for QQQ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
COWZ charges 0.49% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $18 annually, a gap of $31 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, COWZ currently yields 1.72% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
26.3% of COWZ's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 7.0% of QQQ's money is in holdings COWZ also owns.
COWZ and QQQ share little of their money.
19 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in COWZ and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 102 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 77 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for COWZ (90.6% of the fund), and 81 for COWZ that do not appear in QQQ (73.2%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in COWZ | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BKNGBooking Holdings, Inc. | 2.13% | 0.70% | 1.43% |
| GILDGilead Sciences | 2.01% | 0.72% | 1.29% |
| TMUST-Mobile Usa Inc Esrw Usd Npv Ref Sm#585558 | 1.80% | 0.82% | 0.98% |
| INTUIntuit, Inc. | 2.15% | 0.39% | 1.76% |
| ADBEAdobe Systems | 2.07% | 0.46% | 1.61% |
| CMCSAComcast Corp-class A Cmcsa | 1.99% | 0.39% | 1.60% |
| ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. | 1.66% | 0.47% | 1.19% |
| QCOMQualcomm Inc. | 1.40% | 0.73% | 0.67% |
| ABNBAirbnb Inc | 1.73% | 0.28% | 1.45% |
| REGNRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 1.33% | 0.35% | 0.98% |
26.3% of COWZ is already inside QQQ.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, COWZ or QQQ?
COWZ has an expense ratio of 0.49% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $31 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, COWZ or QQQ?
Over the past year COWZ returned +21.65% vs +22.10% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), COWZ annualized +13.12% vs +20.53% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, COWZ or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.2% annualized versus 18.7% for COWZ. Worst drawdown: COWZ -38.6% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both COWZ and QQQ?
COWZ and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, 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 COWZ and QQQ?
26.3% of COWZ's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 7.0% of QQQ's is in holdings COWZ also owns. They hold 19 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in COWZ and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, COWZ or QQQ?
COWZ yields 1.72% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so COWZ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than COWZ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. COWZ is less concentrated, with 21.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.