LCOW vs VTI

LCOW vs VTI

Which is better, LCOW or VTI?

Nearly the same fund. VTI costs less.

VTI has a lower expense ratio. LCOW led over 1Y, VTI over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.0%.

Lower Fees: VTIHigher Returns: splitLess Concentrated: VTI

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

MetricLCOWVTI
Expense Ratio0.49%0.03%Best
AUM$27M$689.2B
Dividend Yield0.65%1.06%
Holdings2023,524
YTD Return+14.27%Best+13.02%
1Y Return+17.75%Best+16.63%
3Y Return (annualized)-+21.97%
5Y Return (annualized)-+11.99%
Volatility (annualized)10.6%Best11.5%
Max Drawdown-10.6%-8.9%Best
$10,000 over 1.4 years$13,563$13,768Best
Top 10 Weight49.0%33.5%Best
Fund FamilyPacer ETFsVanguard (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionMay 6, 2025May 24, 2001

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 7, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.4 years).

LCOW 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 1.4 years both funds cover.

LCOW vs VTI Performance

Pacer S&P 500 Quality FCF Aristocrats ETF (LCOW) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year LCOW returned +17.75% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, LCOW is up 14.27% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.5% compared with 10.6% for LCOW. 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 -10.6% for LCOW and -8.9% 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 0.95. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.

Fees and Cost Over Time

LCOW charges 0.49% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $3 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, LCOW currently yields 0.65% against 1.06% for VTI.

Holdings Overlap

LCOW already in VTI99.9%
VTI already in LCOW38.0%

99.9% of LCOW's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 38.0% of VTI's money is in holdings LCOW also owns.

Most of LCOW is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.

98 positions in common, counted across the 98 positions we hold weights for in LCOW and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 202 and 3,524.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 1,058 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for LCOW (59.6% of the fund), and 0 for LCOW that do not appear in VTI (0.0%).

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

StockWeight in LCOWWeight in VTIDifference
NVDANvidia Corp5.52%6.88%1.36%
AAPLApple, Inc5.55%6.30%0.75%
MSFTMicrosoft Corp5.96%5.11%0.85%
METAMeta Platforms Inc5.15%1.70%3.45%
GOOGAlphabet Inc. C4.63%2.12%2.51%
AVGOBroadcom Inc4.26%2.38%1.88%
VVisa Inc Class A5.07%0.85%4.22%
ABBVAbbvie Inc.4.78%0.61%4.17%
MAMastercard Inc4.72%0.63%4.09%
JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common3.34%0.87%2.47%

99.9% of LCOW 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.

LCOWVTI

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, LCOW or VTI?

LCOW has an expense ratio of 0.49% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, LCOW or VTI?

Over the past year LCOW returned +17.75% vs +16.63% for VTI, so LCOW leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), LCOW annualized +24.32% vs +25.66% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, LCOW or VTI?

VTI has been the more volatile fund at 11.5% annualized versus 10.6% for LCOW. Worst drawdown: LCOW -10.6% vs VTI -8.9%.

Should I hold both LCOW and VTI?

LCOW and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.95, 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 LCOW and VTI?

99.9% of LCOW's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 38.0% of VTI's is in holdings LCOW also owns. They hold 98 positions in common, counted across the 98 positions we hold weights for in LCOW and 3,441 in VTI.

Which pays a higher dividend, LCOW or VTI?

LCOW yields 0.65% while VTI yields 1.06%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VTI better than LCOW?

VTI has a lower expense ratio. LCOW led over 1Y, VTI over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.