GCOW vs VOO
Pacer Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, GCOW or VOO?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. GCOW led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. GCOW is less concentrated, with 21.1% 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 | GCOW | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $3.6B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.50% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 111 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +12.45%Best | +11.98% |
| 1Y Return | +18.09%Best | +16.45% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.88% | +21.19%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.83% | +12.95%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.1%Tie | 15.1%Tie |
| Max Drawdown | -37.6% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,286 | $18,384Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 21.1%Best | 37.6% |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 22, 2016 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 23, 2016 to Sep 14, 2026 (10.6 years).
GCOW 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 10.6 years both funds cover.
GCOW vs VOO Performance
Pacer Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF (GCOW) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GCOW returned +18.09% while VOO returned +16.45%. Year to date, GCOW is up 12.45% versus a gain of 11.98% for VOO.
Over three years, GCOW compounded at +14.88% per year against +21.19% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +12.83% and +12.95% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +14.78% annualized vs +10.18%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GCOW and VOO have been equally volatile, both at 15.1% annualized.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -37.6% for GCOW and -34.3% 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 0.71. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GCOW charges 0.60% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $3 annually, a gap of $57 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GCOW currently yields 4.50% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
24.3% of GCOW's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 3.1% of VOO's money is in holdings GCOW also owns.
GCOW and VOO share little of their money.
13 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in GCOW and 494 in VOO, against full books of 111 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 474 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for GCOW (96.0% of the fund), and 3 for GCOW that do not appear in VOO (3.3%).
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 GCOW | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVXChevron Corp | 2.08% | 0.57% | 1.51% |
| PMPhilip Morris International Inc. | 1.99% | 0.46% | 1.53% |
| BMYBristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 2.21% | 0.21% | 2.00% |
| TBBAt&t Inc | 2.15% | 0.25% | 1.90% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 2.08% | 0.30% | 1.78% |
| PFEPfizer Inc | 2.07% | 0.22% | 1.85% |
| MDTMedtronic Plc Ordinary Shares | 2.10% | 0.17% | 1.93% |
| CMCSAComcast Corp-class A Cmcsa | 2.11% | 0.13% | 1.98% |
| ACNAccenture Plc | 2.01% | 0.16% | 1.85% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 1.87% | 0.30% | 1.57% |
24.3% of GCOW 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.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, GCOW or VOO?
GCOW has an expense ratio of 0.60% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $57 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GCOW or VOO?
Over the past year GCOW returned +18.09% vs +16.45% for VOO, so GCOW leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), GCOW annualized +10.18% vs +14.78% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GCOW or VOO?
GCOW and VOO have been equally volatile, both at 15.1% annualized. Worst drawdown: GCOW -37.6% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both GCOW and VOO?
GCOW and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.71, 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 VOO?
24.3% of GCOW's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 3.1% of VOO's is in holdings GCOW also owns. They hold 13 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in GCOW and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, GCOW or VOO?
GCOW yields 4.50% while VOO yields 1.04%, so GCOW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than GCOW?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. GCOW led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. GCOW is less concentrated, with 21.1% 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.