COWZ vs SCHD
Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, COWZ or SCHD?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. COWZ led over 5Y and the full window, SCHD over 1Y and 3Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. COWZ is less concentrated, with 20.3% 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 | COWZ | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $20.2B | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.85% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 102 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +17.97% | +27.56%Best |
| 1Y Return | +24.02% | +30.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.45% | +16.37%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.56%Best | +10.23% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.6% | 15.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -38.6% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,280Best | $16,274 |
| Top 10 Weight | 20.3%Best | 41.5% |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 16, 2016 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 19, 2016 to Sep 4, 2026 (9.7 years).
COWZ 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 9.7 years both funds cover.
COWZ vs SCHD Performance
Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF (COWZ) 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 COWZ returned +24.02% while SCHD returned +30.29%. Year to date, COWZ is up 17.97% versus a gain of 27.56% for SCHD.
Over three years, COWZ compounded at +13.45% per year against +16.37% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +11.56% and +10.23% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, COWZ has the edge at +13.43% annualized vs +11.51%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
COWZ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.6% compared with 15.4% 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 -38.6% for COWZ and -33.4% 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 0.91. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
COWZ 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, COWZ currently yields 1.85% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
20.5% of COWZ's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 29.1% of SCHD's money is in holdings COWZ also owns.
SCHD and COWZ share little of their money.
15 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in COWZ and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 102 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 84 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for COWZ (70.8% of the fund), and 84 for COWZ that do not appear in SCHD (77.8%).
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 SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| VZVerizon Communic | 1.94% | 3.84% | 1.90% |
| BMYBristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 2.16% | 3.31% | 1.15% |
| MOAltria Group Inc | 1.77% | 2.86% | 1.09% |
| ACNAccenture Plc | 1.80% | 2.70% | 0.90% |
| ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. | 1.66% | 2.72% | 1.06% |
| CMCSAComcast Corp-class A Cmcsa | 1.97% | 2.26% | 0.29% |
| QCOMQualcomm Inc. | 1.41% | 2.55% | 1.14% |
| FFord Motor Co | 1.80% | 1.37% | 0.43% |
| SLBSchlumberger Nv. | 1.20% | 1.89% | 0.69% |
| EOGEog Resources Inc | 1.22% | 1.80% | 0.58% |
29.1% of SCHD is already inside COWZ.
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 SCHD?
COWZ 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, COWZ or SCHD?
Over the past year COWZ returned +24.02% vs +30.29% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), COWZ annualized +13.43% vs +11.51% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, COWZ or SCHD?
COWZ has been the more volatile fund at 18.6% annualized versus 15.4% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: COWZ -38.6% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both COWZ and SCHD?
COWZ and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.91, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between COWZ and SCHD?
29.1% of SCHD's money is in holdings COWZ also owns. 29.1% of SCHD's is in holdings COWZ also owns. They hold 15 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in COWZ and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, COWZ or SCHD?
COWZ yields 1.85% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than COWZ?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. COWZ led over 5Y and the full window, SCHD over 1Y and 3Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. COWZ is less concentrated, with 20.3% 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.