CGUS vs USMC

CGUS vs USMC

Which is better, CGUS or USMC?

Each has led over a different period.

USMC has a lower expense ratio. CGUS led over 1Y, USMC over 3Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. CGUS is less concentrated, with 43.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.3%.

Lower Fees: USMCHigher Returns: splitLess Concentrated: CGUS

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

MetricCGUSUSMC
Expense Ratio0.33%0.12%Best
AUM$12.3B$5.2B
Dividend Yield0.83%0.74%
Holdings7558
YTD Return+11.95%+13.98%Best
1Y Return+15.39%Best+14.91%
3Y Return (annualized)+21.76%+22.22%Best
5Y Return (annualized)-+14.81%
Volatility (annualized)14.7%Best15.1%
Max Drawdown-21.9%Best-22.0%
$10,000 over 4.6 years$19,073$20,188Best
Top 10 Weight43.8%Best55.3%
Fund FamilyCapital Group (US)Principal Funds
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionFeb 22, 2022Oct 11, 2017

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 24, 2022 to Oct 14, 2026 (4.6 years).

CGUS vs USMC 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 4.6 years both funds cover.

Compare CGUS against instead:CGUS vs SPYCGUS vs QQQCGUS vs VOOCGUS vs VTIUSMC against:USMC vs VXUS

CGUS vs USMC Performance

Capital Group Core Equity ETF (CGUS) is an ETF from Capital Group (US) and Principal U.S. Mega-Cap ETF (USMC) is an ETF from Principal Funds. Over the past year CGUS returned +15.39% while USMC returned +14.91%. Year to date, CGUS is up 11.95% versus a gain of 13.98% for USMC.

Over three years, CGUS compounded at +21.76% per year against +22.22% for USMC.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

USMC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.1% compared with 14.7% for CGUS. 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 -21.9% for CGUS and -22.0% for USMC. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.94. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.

Fees and Cost Over Time

CGUS charges 0.33% per year while USMC charges 0.12%. On a $10,000 position that is $33 vs $12 annually, a gap of $21 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CGUS currently yields 0.83% against 0.74% for USMC.

Holdings Overlap

CGUS already in USMC47.0%
USMC already in CGUS72.5%

47.0% of CGUS's money is in holdings USMC also owns. 72.5% of USMC's money is in holdings CGUS also owns.

Most of USMC is already inside CGUS. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.

16 positions in common, counted across the 68 positions we hold weights for in CGUS and 27 in USMC, against full books of 75 and 58.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 11 positions for USMC that do not appear in our book for CGUS (27.4% of the fund), and 43 for CGUS that do not appear in USMC (42.4%).

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

StockWeight in CGUSWeight in USMCDifference
NVDANvidia Corp.7.90%7.99%0.09%
MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 377.05%5.55%1.50%
AAPLApple, Inc2.53%7.40%4.87%
AVGOBroadcom Inc5.26%4.44%0.82%
AMZNAmazon.Com Inc4.75%3.77%0.98%
GOOGLAlphabet Inc Cap Stk Cl A3.14%5.33%2.19%
METAMeta Platform Inc4.55%3.92%0.63%
MUMicron Technology, Inc.0.38%7.18%6.80%
JPMJpmorgan Chase1.74%4.65%2.91%
LLYEli Lilly & Co.3.68%2.28%1.40%

72.5% of USMC is already inside CGUS.

You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.

CGUSUSMC

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, CGUS or USMC?

CGUS has an expense ratio of 0.33% while USMC charges 0.12%. USMC is the cheaper option, by $21 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, CGUS or USMC?

Over the past year CGUS returned +15.39% vs +14.91% for USMC, so CGUS leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, CGUS or USMC?

USMC has been the more volatile fund at 15.1% annualized versus 14.7% for CGUS. Worst drawdown: CGUS -21.9% vs USMC -22.0%.

Should I hold both CGUS and USMC?

CGUS and USMC have a monthly-return correlation of 0.94, 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 CGUS and USMC?

72.5% of USMC's money is in holdings CGUS also owns. 72.5% of USMC's is in holdings CGUS also owns. They hold 16 positions in common, counted across the 68 positions we hold weights for in CGUS and 27 in USMC.

Which pays a higher dividend, CGUS or USMC?

CGUS yields 0.83% while USMC yields 0.74%, so CGUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is USMC better than CGUS?

USMC has a lower expense ratio. CGUS led over 1Y, USMC over 3Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. CGUS is less concentrated, with 43.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.