CARK vs COWG
CastleArk Large Growth ETF vs Pacer US Large Cap Cash Cows Growth Leaders ETF
Which is better, CARK or COWG?
COWG has been ahead.
COWG has a lower expense ratio. COWG led over 1Y and the full window. COWG is less concentrated, with 32.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 63.4%.
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 | CARK | COWG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.54% | 0.49%Best |
| AUM | $351M | $2.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.01% | 0.75% |
| Holdings | 60 | 204 |
| YTD Return | +9.30% | +13.88%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.27% | +13.28%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.86% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.5% | 15.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -25.2% | -23.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.9 years | $16,010 | $18,167Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 63.4% | 32.7%Best |
| Fund Family | CastleArk Management LLC | Pacer ETFs |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Dec 6, 2023 | Dec 21, 2022 |
Not shown on this pair: 5Y Return (annualized).
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 7, 2023 to Oct 14, 2026 (2.9 years).
CARK vs COWG 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 2.9 years both funds cover.
CARK vs COWG Performance
CastleArk Large Growth ETF (CARK) is an ETF from CastleArk Management LLC and Pacer US Large Cap Cash Cows Growth Leaders ETF (COWG) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs. Over the past year CARK returned +11.27% while COWG returned +13.28%. Year to date, CARK is up 9.30% versus a gain of 13.88% for COWG.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CARK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.5% compared with 15.5% for COWG. 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 -25.2% for CARK and -23.6% for COWG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CARK charges 0.54% per year while COWG charges 0.49%. On a $10,000 position that is $54 vs $49 annually, a gap of $5 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CARK currently yields 0.01% against 0.75% for COWG.
Holdings Overlap
42.1% of CARK's money is in holdings COWG also owns. 8.4% of COWG's money is in holdings CARK also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
10 positions in common, counted across the 29 positions we hold weights for in CARK and 100 in COWG, against full books of 60 and 204.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 88 positions for COWG that do not appear in our book for CARK (87.8% of the fund), and 18 for CARK that do not appear in COWG (56.7%).
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 CARK | Weight in COWG | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 14.36% | 0.94% | 13.42% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.30% | 0.88% | 5.42% |
| ANETArista Networks Inc Common Stock | 5.25% | 1.46% | 3.79% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 4.24% | 0.74% | 3.50% |
| GILDGilead Sciences | 3.21% | 0.45% | 2.76% |
| GEVGe Vernova, Inc. | 2.80% | 0.55% | 2.25% |
| ADIAnalog Devices, Inc. | 2.47% | 0.57% | 1.90% |
| NOWServicenow, Inc. | 1.52% | 1.16% | 0.36% |
| BKNGBooking Holdings, Inc. | 1.32% | 0.66% | 0.66% |
| ABNBAirbnb Inc | 0.62% | 1.03% | 0.41% |
42.1% of CARK is already inside COWG.
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, CARK or COWG?
CARK has an expense ratio of 0.54% while COWG charges 0.49%. COWG is the cheaper option, by $5 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CARK or COWG?
Over the past year CARK returned +11.27% vs +13.28% for COWG, so COWG leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CARK or COWG?
CARK has been the more volatile fund at 16.5% annualized versus 15.5% for COWG. Worst drawdown: CARK -25.2% vs COWG -23.6%.
Should I hold both CARK and COWG?
CARK and COWG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, 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 CARK and COWG?
42.1% of CARK's money is in holdings COWG also owns. 8.4% of COWG's is in holdings CARK also owns. They hold 10 positions in common, counted across the 29 positions we hold weights for in CARK and 100 in COWG.
Which pays a higher dividend, CARK or COWG?
CARK yields 0.01% while COWG yields 0.75%, so COWG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is COWG better than CARK?
COWG has a lower expense ratio. COWG led over 1Y and the full window. COWG is less concentrated, with 32.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 63.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.