MCOW vs VOO
Pacer S&P MidCap 400 Quality FCF Aristocrats ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, MCOW or VOO?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y and the full window. MCOW is less concentrated, with 33.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.9%.
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 | MCOW | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1M | $1.0T |
| Dividend Yield | 0.25% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 158 | 506 |
| YTD Return | +11.21% | +13.57%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.13% | +17.55%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.46% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.28% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.0% | 12.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -15.1% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $10,749 | $11,976Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 33.7%Best | 37.9% |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 27, 2025 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 28, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.1 years).
MCOW vs VOO 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
MCOW vs VOO Performance
Pacer S&P MidCap 400 Quality FCF Aristocrats ETF (MCOW) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year MCOW returned +9.13% while VOO returned +17.55%. Year to date, MCOW is up 11.21% versus a gain of 13.57% for VOO.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
MCOW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.0% compared with 12.4% for VOO. 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 -15.1% for MCOW and -8.9% for VOO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MCOW charges 0.49% per year while VOO 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, MCOW currently yields 0.25% against 1.06% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 76 holdings in MCOW and 504 in VOO, totalling 99.9% and 100.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 76 positions we hold weights for in MCOW and 504 in VOO, against full books of 158 and 506.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 499 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for MCOW (99.7% of the fund), and 74 for MCOW that do not appear in VOO (97.3%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of MCOW and VOO 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, MCOW or VOO?
MCOW has an expense ratio of 0.49% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MCOW or VOO?
Over the past year MCOW returned +9.13% vs +17.55% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), MCOW annualized +6.79% vs +17.81% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MCOW or VOO?
MCOW has been the more volatile fund at 13.0% annualized versus 12.4% for VOO. Worst drawdown: MCOW -15.1% vs VOO -8.9%.
Should I hold both MCOW and VOO?
MCOW and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, MCOW or VOO?
MCOW yields 0.25% while VOO yields 1.06%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than MCOW?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y and the full window. MCOW is less concentrated, with 33.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.