GCOW vs SPY
Pacer Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, GCOW or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. GCOW is less concentrated, with 21.2% 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 | GCOW | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $3.5B | $823.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.08% | 0.99% |
| Holdings | 210 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | +9.91% | +13.53%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.32% | +17.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.70% | +22.36%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.42% | +13.21%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.2% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -37.6% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,956 | $18,596Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 21.2%Best | 38.2% |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 22, 2016 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 23, 2016 to Oct 14, 2026 (10.6 years).
GCOW 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 10.6 years both funds cover.
GCOW vs SPY Performance
Pacer Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF (GCOW) 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 GCOW returned +16.32% while SPY returned +17.47%. Year to date, GCOW is up 9.91% versus a gain of 13.53% for SPY.
Over three years, GCOW compounded at +14.70% per year against +22.36% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +12.42% and +13.21% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.74% annualized vs +9.86%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GCOW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.2% compared with 15.0% 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 -37.6% for GCOW and -34.1% 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 0.71. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GCOW charges 0.60% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $9 annually, a gap of $51 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GCOW currently yields 5.08% against 0.99% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
18.1% of GCOW's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 2.7% of SPY's money is in holdings GCOW also owns.
GCOW and SPY share little of their money.
9 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in GCOW and 504 in SPY, against full books of 210 and 1,515.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 487 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for GCOW (96.3% of the fund), and 7 for GCOW that do not appear in SPY (10.0%).
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 SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVXChevron Corp | 2.21% | 0.60% | 1.61% |
| PMPhilip Morris International Inc. | 2.13% | 0.46% | 1.67% |
| TAT&T Inc. | 2.14% | 0.28% | 1.86% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 2.02% | 0.33% | 1.69% |
| PFEPfizer Inc | 2.10% | 0.24% | 1.86% |
| BMYBristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 2.07% | 0.20% | 1.87% |
| MOAltria Group Inc | 1.89% | 0.18% | 1.71% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 1.76% | 0.28% | 1.48% |
| CMCSAComcast Corp. Class A | 1.78% | 0.14% | 1.64% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GCOW and SPY 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, GCOW or SPY?
GCOW has an expense ratio of 0.60% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $51 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GCOW or SPY?
Over the past year GCOW returned +16.32% vs +17.47% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), GCOW annualized +9.86% vs +14.74% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GCOW or SPY?
GCOW has been the more volatile fund at 15.2% annualized versus 15.0% for SPY. Worst drawdown: GCOW -37.6% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both GCOW and SPY?
GCOW and SPY 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 SPY?
18.1% of GCOW's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 2.7% of SPY's is in holdings GCOW also owns. They hold 9 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in GCOW and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, GCOW or SPY?
GCOW yields 5.08% while SPY yields 0.99%, so GCOW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than GCOW?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. GCOW is less concentrated, with 21.2% 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.