ICOW vs VOO
Pacer Developed Markets International Cash Cows 100 ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, ICOW or VOO?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. ICOW led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ICOW is less concentrated, with 20.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%.
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 | ICOW | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1.8B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.17% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 111 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +12.73%Best | +12.23% |
| 1Y Return | +22.03%Best | +18.60% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.13% | +20.98%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.79% | +12.76%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.9% | 15.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -43.5% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,952 | $18,230Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 20.9%Best | 36.4% |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 16, 2017 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 19, 2017 to Sep 9, 2026 (9.2 years).
ICOW 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 9.2 years both funds cover.
ICOW vs VOO Performance
Pacer Developed Markets International Cash Cows 100 ETF (ICOW) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ICOW returned +22.03% while VOO returned +18.60%. Year to date, ICOW is up 12.73% versus a gain of 12.23% for VOO.
Over three years, ICOW compounded at +16.13% per year against +20.98% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +9.79% and +12.76% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +14.03% annualized vs +9.31%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ICOW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.9% compared with 15.9% for VOO. 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 -43.5% for ICOW 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 0.75. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ICOW charges 0.65% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $3 annually, a gap of $62 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ICOW currently yields 2.17% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in ICOW and 505 in VOO, totalling 99.8% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in ICOW and 505 in VOO, against full books of 111 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 496 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for ICOW (99.5% of the fund), and 2 for ICOW that do not appear in VOO (2.1%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ICOW and VOO 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, ICOW or VOO?
ICOW has an expense ratio of 0.65% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $62 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ICOW or VOO?
Over the past year ICOW returned +22.03% vs +18.60% for VOO, so ICOW leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), ICOW annualized +9.31% vs +14.03% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ICOW or VOO?
ICOW has been the more volatile fund at 17.9% annualized versus 15.9% for VOO. Worst drawdown: ICOW -43.5% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both ICOW and VOO?
ICOW and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.75, 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, ICOW or VOO?
ICOW yields 2.17% while VOO yields 1.04%, so ICOW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than ICOW?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. ICOW led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ICOW is less concentrated, with 20.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.