PFXF vs. COWZ
PFXF (VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF) and COWZ (Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - PFXF is a Preferred Stock fund tracking the ICE Exchange-Listed Fixed & Adjustable Rate Non-Financial Preferred Securities Index, while COWZ is a Mid Cap Value Equities fund tracking the Pacer US Cash Cows 100 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, PFXF returned 3.13%/yr vs 11.04%/yr for COWZ. Their 0.54 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. PFXF charges 0.40%/yr vs 0.49%/yr for COWZ.
Performance
PFXF vs. COWZ - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PFXF achieves a 4.43% return, which is significantly lower than COWZ's 12.39% return.
PFXF
- 1D
- 2.10%
- 1M
- 1.13%
- 6M
- 1.23%
- YTD
- 4.43%
- 1Y
- 9.79%
- 3Y*
- 8.72%
- 5Y*
- 3.13%
- 10Y*
- 4.73%
- ALL TIME*
- 5.36%
COWZ
- 1D
- 0.58%
- 1M
- 5.50%
- 6M
- 8.21%
- YTD
- 12.39%
- 1Y
- 24.54%
- 3Y*
- 11.99%
- 5Y*
- 11.04%
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 13.03%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $63.88M | $58.45M | $60.21M | |
| $14.01M | $13.64M | $16.82M |
PFXF vs. COWZ - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PFXF VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF | 4.43% | 9.64% | 8.42% | 11.20% | -18.83% | 11.61% | 7.61% | 20.52% | -4.17% | 7.93% |
COWZ Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF | 12.39% | 8.98% | 10.64% | 14.73% | 0.19% | 42.57% | 11.65% | 23.41% | -10.05% | 20.22% |
Correlation
The correlation between PFXF and COWZ is 0.44, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.44 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.52 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.58 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 19, 2016 | 0.54 |
The correlation between PFXF and COWZ shifts across timeframes, from 0.44 (1 year) to 0.58 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
PFXF vs. COWZ — Risk / Return Rank
PFXF
COWZ
PFXF vs. COWZ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF (PFXF) and Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF (COWZ). 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.
| PFXF | COWZ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.12 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.65 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.17 | 1.37 | -0.20 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.22 | 4.14 | -2.92 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.58 | 12.12 | -8.54 |
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Drawdowns
PFXF vs. COWZ - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PFXF drawdown since its inception was -35.49%, smaller than the maximum COWZ drawdown of -38.63%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PFXF and COWZ.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PFXF | COWZ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -35.49% | -38.63% | +3.14% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.04% | -5.95% | -2.09% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -11.90% | -22.00% | +10.10% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -21.80% | -22.00% | +0.20% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -35.49% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -4.70% | -0.83% | -3.87% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.92% | -4.76% | +0.84% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.74% | 2.03% | +0.71% |
Volatility
PFXF vs. COWZ - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF (PFXF) is 4.27%, while Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF (COWZ) has a volatility of 4.86%. This indicates that PFXF experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than COWZ based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PFXF | COWZ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.27% | 4.86% | -0.59% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 8.25% | 8.75% | -0.50% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 10.15% | 11.84% | -1.69% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 11.15% | 17.69% | -6.54% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 13.31% | 19.86% | -6.55% |
PFXF vs. COWZ - Expense Ratio Comparison
PFXF has a 0.40% expense ratio, which is lower than COWZ's 0.49% expense ratio.
Dividends
PFXF vs. COWZ - Dividend Comparison
PFXF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.56%, more than COWZ's 1.84% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
COWZ Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF | 1.84% | 2.19% | 1.82% | 1.92% | 1.96% | 1.48% | 2.54% | 1.96% | 1.67% | 1.95% | 0.13% | 0.00% |
PFXF VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF | 6.56% | 6.72% | 7.82% | 7.88% | 6.74% | 4.66% | 5.19% | 5.35% | 6.56% | 5.93% | 5.81% | 5.99% |
Frequently Asked Questions
PFXF and COWZ have a correlation of 0.44, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
COWZ has higher volatility (4.86%) compared to PFXF (4.27%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PFXF dropped -35.49% vs COWZ's -38.63%.
On 5-year performance, COWZ leads with 11.04% vs 3.13% for PFXF. On fees, PFXF is cheaper at 0.40% per year. On volatility, PFXF has been the lower-risk option at 4.27%. 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 11.04% return vs 3.13%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
PFXF is cheaper with a 0.40% expense ratio, compared with 0.49% for COWZ.
PFXF has the higher dividend yield at 6.56%, compared with 1.84% for COWZ.
PFXF is categorized as Preferred Stock, while COWZ is Mid Cap Value Equities. PFXF tracks ICE Exchange-Listed Fixed & Adjustable Rate Non-Financial Preferred Securities Index, while COWZ tracks Pacer US Cash Cows 100 Index. They also come from different issuers: VanEck and Pacer. Their fees differ too: 0.40% for PFXF and 0.49% for COWZ.
COWZ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.09 vs 0.97), 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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