COWZ vs. BRK-B

Last updated Jun 9, 2026

COWZ (Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF) is Mid Cap Value Equities fund tracking the Pacer US Cash Cows 100 Index, while BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway Inc.) is a stock. Over the past 5 years, COWZ returned 10.11%/yr vs 11.03%/yr for BRK-B. A 0.62 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.

Performance

COWZ vs. BRK-B - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF (COWZ) and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, COWZ achieves a 6.41% return, which is significantly higher than BRK-B's -3.11% return.

COWZ

• 1D: -0.30%
• 1M: 0.81%
• YTD: 6.41%
• 6M: 7.19%
• 1Y: 19.32%
• 3Y*: 13.26%
• 5Y*: 10.11%
• 10Y*: —

BRK-B

• 1D: -0.23%
• 1M: 2.32%
• YTD: -3.11%
• 6M: -2.06%
• 1Y: -1.32%
• 3Y*: 13.25%
• 5Y*: 11.03%
• 10Y*: 13.14%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

COWZ vs. BRK-B - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
COWZ Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF	6.41%	8.98%	10.64%	14.73%	0.19%	42.57%	11.65%	23.41%	-10.05%	20.22%
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc.	-3.11%	10.89%	27.09%	15.46%	3.31%	28.95%	2.37%	10.93%	3.01%	21.62%

Correlation

The correlation between COWZ and BRK-B is 0.28, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.28
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.44
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.59
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 20, 2016	0.62

Over the past year, the correlation between COWZ and BRK-B has dropped to 0.28 - well below their long-term average of 0.62, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.

Return for Risk

COWZ vs. BRK-B — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

COWZ

COWZ Risk / Return Rank: 64
COWZ Sharpe Ratio Rank: 57
COWZ Sortino Ratio Rank: 61
COWZ Omega Ratio Rank: 55
COWZ Calmar Ratio Rank: 81
COWZ Martin Ratio Rank: 64

BRK-B

BRK-B Risk / Return Rank: 35
BRK-B Sharpe Ratio Rank: 38
BRK-B Sortino Ratio Rank: 30
BRK-B Omega Ratio Rank: 30
BRK-B Calmar Ratio Rank: 38
BRK-B Martin Ratio Rank: 37

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

COWZ vs. BRK-B - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF (COWZ) and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

	COWZ	BRK-B	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.74	-0.09	+1.83
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.58	-0.03	+2.61
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.31	1.00	+0.31
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.88	-0.14	+4.02
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	10.52	-0.30	+10.82
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

COWZ vs. BRK-B - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current COWZ Sharpe Ratio is 1.74, which is higher than the BRK-B Sharpe Ratio of -0.09. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of COWZ and BRK-B, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	COWZ	BRK-B	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.74	-0.09	+1.83
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.58	0.65	-0.07
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.68	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.64	0.48	+0.15

Drawdowns

COWZ vs. BRK-B - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum COWZ drawdown since its inception was -38.63%, smaller than the maximum BRK-B drawdown of -53.86%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for COWZ and BRK-B.

Drawdown Indicators

	COWZ	BRK-B	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-38.63%	-53.86%	+15.23%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-5.00%	-9.42%	+4.42%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-22.00%	-14.95%	-7.05%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-22.00%	-26.58%	+4.58%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-29.57%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-2.53%	-9.78%	+7.25%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-4.80%	-11.07%	+6.27%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.84%	4.49%	-2.65%

Volatility

COWZ vs. BRK-B - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF (COWZ) is 2.92%, while Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) has a volatility of 3.98%. This indicates that COWZ experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BRK-B based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	COWZ	BRK-B	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	2.92%	3.98%	-1.06%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	7.21%	10.87%	-3.66%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	11.16%	14.38%	-3.22%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	17.64%	17.13%	+0.51%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	19.92%	19.44%	+0.48%

Dividends

COWZ vs. BRK-B - Dividend Comparison

COWZ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.94%, while BRK-B has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc.	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
COWZ Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF	1.94%	2.19%	1.82%	1.92%	1.96%	1.48%	2.54%	1.96%	1.67%	1.95%	0.13%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both COWZ and BRK-B in my portfolio?

COWZ and BRK-B have a correlation of 0.28, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, COWZ or BRK-B?

BRK-B has higher volatility (3.98%) compared to COWZ (2.92%). In terms of maximum drawdown, COWZ dropped -38.63% vs BRK-B's -53.86%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

COWZ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.74 vs -0.09), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.