COWG vs SPY
Pacer US Large Cap Cash Cows Growth Leaders ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, COWG or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. COWG led over 3Y, SPY over 1Y and the full window. COWG is less concentrated, with 32.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%.
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 | COWG | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $2.4B | $823.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.75% | 0.99% |
| Holdings | 204 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | +13.88%Best | +13.53% |
| 1Y Return | +13.28% | +17.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.86%Best | +22.36% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.21% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.4% | 12.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -23.6% | -18.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.8 years | $20,325 | $21,039Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 32.7%Best | 38.2% |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 21, 2022 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 23, 2022 to Oct 14, 2026 (3.8 years).
COWG vs SPY 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 3.8 years both funds cover.
COWG vs SPY Performance
Pacer US Large Cap Cash Cows Growth Leaders ETF (COWG) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year COWG returned +13.28% while SPY returned +17.47%. Year to date, COWG is up 13.88% versus a gain of 13.53% for SPY.
Over three years, COWG compounded at +22.86% per year against +22.36% for SPY. Across the full 4-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +21.62% annualized vs +20.52%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
COWG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.4% compared with 12.4% for SPY. 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 -23.6% for COWG and -18.8% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
COWG charges 0.49% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $9 annually, a gap of $40 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, COWG currently yields 0.75% against 0.99% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
59.4% of COWG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 29.1% of SPY's money is in holdings COWG also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
61 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in COWG and 504 in SPY, against full books of 204 and 1,515.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 435 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for COWG (69.9% of the fund), and 37 for COWG that do not appear in SPY (36.8%).
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 COWG | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 0.94% | 7.78% | 6.84% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 0.88% | 7.45% | 6.57% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 3.26% | 1.59% | 1.67% |
| CRWDCrowdstrike Holdings Inc | 3.78% | 0.36% | 3.42% |
| PANWPalo Alto Networks, Inc | 3.60% | 0.46% | 3.14% |
| DDOGDatadog Inc | 3.46% | 0.12% | 3.34% |
| SNDKVSandisk Corp. | 3.11% | 0.35% | 2.76% |
| FTNTFortinet Inc | 3.15% | 0.16% | 2.99% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 0.74% | 2.48% | 1.74% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 1.27% | 0.61% | 0.66% |
59.4% of COWG is already inside SPY.
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, COWG or SPY?
COWG has an expense ratio of 0.49% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $40 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, COWG or SPY?
Over the past year COWG returned +13.28% vs +17.47% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), COWG annualized +20.52% vs +21.62% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, COWG or SPY?
COWG has been the more volatile fund at 15.4% annualized versus 12.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: COWG -23.6% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both COWG and SPY?
COWG and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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 COWG and SPY?
59.4% of COWG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 29.1% of SPY's is in holdings COWG also owns. They hold 61 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in COWG and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, COWG or SPY?
COWG yields 0.75% while SPY yields 0.99%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than COWG?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. COWG led over 3Y, SPY over 1Y and the full window. COWG is less concentrated, with 32.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.