COWZ vs. VCR
COWZ (Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF) and VCR (Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - COWZ is a Mid Cap Value Equities fund tracking the Pacer US Cash Cows 100 Index, while VCR is a Consumer Discretionary Equities fund tracking the MSCI US Investable Market Consumer Discretionary 25/50 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, COWZ returned 10.13%/yr vs 6.00%/yr for VCR. A 0.70 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. COWZ charges 0.49%/yr vs 0.10%/yr for VCR.
Performance
COWZ vs. VCR - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, COWZ achieves a 6.93% return, which is significantly higher than VCR's -0.09% return.
COWZ
- 1D
- 0.82%
- 1M
- 1.75%
- YTD
- 6.93%
- 6M
- 6.01%
- 1Y
- 19.20%
- 3Y*
- 13.01%
- 5Y*
- 10.13%
- 10Y*
- —
VCR
- 1D
- 0.20%
- 1M
- 0.16%
- YTD
- -0.09%
- 6M
- -1.17%
- 1Y
- 12.37%
- 3Y*
- 13.30%
- 5Y*
- 6.00%
- 10Y*
- 13.76%
COWZ vs. VCR - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
COWZ Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF | 6.93% | 8.98% | 10.64% | 14.73% | 0.19% | 42.57% | 11.65% | 23.41% | -10.05% | 20.22% |
VCR Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF | -0.09% | 5.77% | 24.27% | 40.38% | -35.15% | 24.86% | 48.36% | 27.45% | -2.31% | 22.82% |
Correlation
The correlation between COWZ and VCR is 0.57, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.57 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.61 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.67 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 19, 2016 | 0.70 |
The correlation between COWZ and VCR shifts across timeframes, from 0.57 (1 year) to 0.70 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
COWZ vs. VCR — Risk / Return Rank
COWZ
VCR
COWZ vs. VCR - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF (COWZ) and Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF (VCR). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| COWZ | VCR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.03 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.46 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.11 | +0.17 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.65 | 0.72 | +2.93 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.73 | 2.21 | +7.52 |
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Drawdowns
COWZ vs. VCR - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum COWZ drawdown since its inception was -38.63%, smaller than the maximum VCR drawdown of -61.54%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for COWZ and VCR.
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Drawdown Indicators
| COWZ | VCR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -38.63% | -61.54% | +22.91% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.00% | -15.59% | +10.59% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -22.00% | -27.36% | +5.36% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -22.00% | -39.20% | +17.20% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -39.20% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.05% | -4.64% | +2.59% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.80% | -9.39% | +4.59% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.88% | 5.05% | -3.17% |
Volatility
COWZ vs. VCR - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF (COWZ) is 3.27%, while Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF (VCR) has a volatility of 6.17%. This indicates that COWZ experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VCR based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| COWZ | VCR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.27% | 6.17% | -2.90% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 7.20% | 13.48% | -6.28% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.19% | 18.62% | -7.43% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.64% | 24.03% | -6.39% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.91% | 22.43% | -2.52% |
COWZ vs. VCR - Expense Ratio Comparison
COWZ has a 0.49% expense ratio, which is higher than VCR's 0.10% expense ratio.
Dividends
COWZ vs. VCR - Dividend Comparison
COWZ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.93%, more than VCR's 0.73% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
COWZ Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF | 1.93% | 2.19% | 1.82% | 1.92% | 1.96% | 1.48% | 2.54% | 1.96% | 1.67% | 1.95% | 0.13% | 0.00% |
VCR Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF | 0.73% | 0.74% | 0.74% | 0.84% | 0.98% | 0.79% | 1.71% | 1.17% | 1.37% | 1.21% | 1.60% | 1.32% |
Frequently Asked Questions
COWZ and VCR have a correlation of 0.57, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VCR has higher volatility (6.17%) compared to COWZ (3.27%). In terms of maximum drawdown, COWZ dropped -38.63% vs VCR's -61.54%.
On 5-year performance, COWZ leads with 10.13% vs 6.00% for VCR. On fees, VCR is cheaper at 0.10% per year. On volatility, COWZ has been the lower-risk option at 3.27%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, COWZ has performed better with a 10.13% return vs 6.00%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VCR is cheaper with a 0.10% expense ratio, compared with 0.49% for COWZ.
COWZ has the higher dividend yield at 1.93%, compared with 0.73% for VCR.
COWZ is categorized as Mid Cap Value Equities, while VCR is Consumer Discretionary Equities. COWZ tracks Pacer US Cash Cows 100 Index, while VCR tracks MSCI US Investable Market Consumer Discretionary 25/50 Index. They also come from different issuers: Pacer and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.49% for COWZ and 0.10% for VCR.
COWZ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.63 vs 0.60), 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.
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