HCOW vs VTI
Amplify COWS Covered Call ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, HCOW or VTI?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.6%.
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 | HCOW | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $17M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 13.09% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 86 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +8.81% | +13.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.59% | +16.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.63% | +21.97%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.99% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.2% | 12.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -24.1% | -19.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.1 years | $13,468 | $18,098Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.6% | 33.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Amplify ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 20, 2023 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 20, 2023 to Oct 14, 2026 (3.1 years).
HCOW vs VTI 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 3.1 years both funds cover.
HCOW vs VTI Performance
Amplify COWS Covered Call ETF (HCOW) is an ETF from Amplify ETFs and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year HCOW returned +15.59% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, HCOW is up 8.81% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Over three years, HCOW compounded at +10.63% per year against +21.97% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
HCOW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.2% compared with 12.7% for VTI. 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 -24.1% for HCOW and -19.3% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HCOW charges 0.65% per year while VTI 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, HCOW currently yields 13.09% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
92.4% of HCOW's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 3.1% of VTI's money is in holdings HCOW also owns.
Most of HCOW is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
28 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in HCOW and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 86 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,128 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for HCOW (94.5% of the fund), and 3 for HCOW that do not appear in VTI (7.9%).
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 HCOW | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| XOMExxonmobil Holdings Corp Common Stock Usd | 4.01% | 0.90% | 3.11% |
| HPEHewlett Packard Enterprise Co | 4.41% | 0.09% | 4.32% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 3.89% | 0.53% | 3.36% |
| QCOMQualcomm Inc. | 4.15% | 0.24% | 3.91% |
| TELTe Connectivity Plc Common Stock Usd | 4.27% | 0.08% | 4.19% |
| AVYAvery Dennison Corp. | 4.06% | 0.02% | 4.04% |
| HASHasbro Inc. | 4.06% | 0.02% | 4.04% |
| LNGCheniere Energy Inc. | 3.97% | 0.08% | 3.89% |
| CSLCsl Ltd. - Adr | 3.87% | 0.02% | 3.85% |
| CCKCrown Holdings Inc. | 3.82% | 0.02% | 3.80% |
92.4% of HCOW is already inside VTI.
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, HCOW or VTI?
HCOW has an expense ratio of 0.65% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $62 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HCOW or VTI?
Over the past year HCOW returned +15.59% vs +16.63% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HCOW or VTI?
HCOW has been the more volatile fund at 15.2% annualized versus 12.7% for VTI. Worst drawdown: HCOW -24.1% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both HCOW and VTI?
HCOW and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, 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 HCOW and VTI?
92.4% of HCOW's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 3.1% of VTI's is in holdings HCOW also owns. They hold 28 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in HCOW and 3,441 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, HCOW or VTI?
HCOW yields 13.09% while VTI yields 1.06%, so HCOW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than HCOW?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.