GCOW vs SCHD
Pacer Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, GCOW or SCHD?
Each has led over a different period.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. GCOW led over 5Y, SCHD over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. GCOW is less concentrated, with 20.5% 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 | GCOW | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $3.6B | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.58% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 111 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +12.96% | +27.56%Best |
| 1Y Return | +18.89% | +30.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.59% | +16.37%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.66%Best | +10.23% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.1% | 14.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -37.6% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,149Best | $16,274 |
| Top 10 Weight | 20.5%Best | 41.5% |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Feb 22, 2016 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 23, 2016 to Sep 4, 2026 (10.5 years).
GCOW 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 10.5 years both funds cover.
GCOW vs SCHD Performance
Pacer Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF (GCOW) 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 GCOW returned +18.89% while SCHD returned +30.29%. Year to date, GCOW is up 12.96% versus a gain of 27.56% for SCHD.
Over three years, GCOW compounded at +15.59% per year against +16.37% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +12.66% and +10.23% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +12.13% annualized vs +10.25%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GCOW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.1% compared with 14.9% 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 -37.6% for GCOW 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 0.85. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GCOW charges 0.60% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $6 annually, a gap of $54 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GCOW currently yields 4.58% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
13.8% of GCOW's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 22.4% of SCHD's money is in holdings GCOW also owns.
SCHD and GCOW share little of their money.
7 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in GCOW and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 111 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 92 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for GCOW (77.5% of the fund), and 6 for GCOW that do not appear in SCHD (9.1%).
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
22.4% of SCHD is already inside GCOW.
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, GCOW or SCHD?
GCOW has an expense ratio of 0.60% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $54 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GCOW or SCHD?
Over the past year GCOW returned +18.89% vs +30.29% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), GCOW annualized +10.25% vs +12.13% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GCOW or SCHD?
GCOW has been the more volatile fund at 15.1% annualized versus 14.9% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: GCOW -37.6% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both GCOW and SCHD?
GCOW and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.85, 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 GCOW and SCHD?
22.4% of SCHD's money is in holdings GCOW also owns. 22.4% of SCHD's is in holdings GCOW also owns. They hold 7 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in GCOW and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, GCOW or SCHD?
GCOW yields 4.58% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so GCOW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than GCOW?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. GCOW led over 5Y, SCHD over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. GCOW is less concentrated, with 20.5% 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.