PSCW vs. GCOW
PSCW (Pacer Swan SOS Conservative (April) ETF) and GCOW (Pacer Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - PSCW is a Defined Outcome fund actively managed by Pacer, while GCOW is a Large Cap Value Equities fund tracking the Pacer Global Cash Cows Dividends Index. PSCW is actively managed, while GCOW is passively managed. Over the past 5 years, PSCW returned 6.97%/yr vs 11.72%/yr for GCOW. A 0.51 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. PSCW charges 0.61%/yr vs 0.60%/yr for GCOW.
Performance
PSCW vs. GCOW - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with PSCW having a 7.04% return and GCOW slightly higher at 7.34%.
PSCW
- 1D
- -0.33%
- 1M
- 0.07%
- YTD
- 7.04%
- 6M
- 6.91%
- 1Y
- 13.63%
- 3Y*
- 11.23%
- 5Y*
- 6.97%
- 10Y*
- —
GCOW
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- -6.00%
- YTD
- 7.34%
- 6M
- 7.32%
- 1Y
- 21.14%
- 3Y*
- 15.59%
- 5Y*
- 11.72%
- 10Y*
- 9.95%
PSCW vs. GCOW - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PSCW Pacer Swan SOS Conservative (April) ETF | 7.04% | 6.56% | 12.95% | 11.44% | -5.52% | 6.09% |
GCOW Pacer Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF | 7.34% | 27.34% | 3.52% | 13.95% | 5.49% | 6.22% |
Correlation
The correlation between PSCW and GCOW is 0.27, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.27 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.39 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.50 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 1, 2021 | 0.51 |
Over the past year, the correlation between PSCW and GCOW has dropped to 0.27 - well below their long-term average of 0.51, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
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Return for Risk
PSCW vs. GCOW — Risk / Return Rank
PSCW
GCOW
PSCW vs. GCOW - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Pacer Swan SOS Conservative (April) ETF (PSCW) and Pacer Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF (GCOW). 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.
| PSCW | GCOW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.80 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +3.46 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.82 | 1.33 | +0.49 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 9.15 | 3.06 | +6.09 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 44.03 | 10.42 | +33.62 |
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Drawdowns
PSCW vs. GCOW - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PSCW drawdown since its inception was -11.89%, smaller than the maximum GCOW drawdown of -37.64%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PSCW and GCOW.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PSCW | GCOW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -11.89% | -37.64% | +25.75% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.50% | -6.93% | +5.43% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -11.89% | -12.35% | +0.46% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -11.89% | -21.48% | +9.59% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -37.64% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.58% | -6.93% | +6.35% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.16% | -5.83% | +3.67% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.31% | 2.03% | -1.72% |
Volatility
PSCW vs. GCOW - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Pacer Swan SOS Conservative (April) ETF (PSCW) is 1.45%, while Pacer Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF (GCOW) has a volatility of 2.89%. This indicates that PSCW experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than GCOW based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PSCW | GCOW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.45% | 2.89% | -1.44% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.77% | 8.29% | -5.52% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.71% | 11.09% | -7.38% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 7.66% | 13.50% | -5.84% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 7.58% | 16.03% | -8.45% |
PSCW vs. GCOW - Expense Ratio Comparison
PSCW has a 0.61% expense ratio, which is higher than GCOW's 0.60% expense ratio.
Dividends
PSCW vs. GCOW - Dividend Comparison
PSCW has not paid dividends to shareholders, while GCOW's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.90%.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GCOW Pacer Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF | 4.90% | 4.06% | 5.14% | 5.28% | 4.39% | 4.23% | 4.12% | 4.40% | 3.94% | 2.79% | 1.95% |
PSCW Pacer Swan SOS Conservative (April) ETF | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
PSCW and GCOW have a correlation of 0.27, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
GCOW has higher volatility (2.89%) compared to PSCW (1.45%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PSCW dropped -11.89% vs GCOW's -37.64%.
On 5-year performance, GCOW leads with 11.72% vs 6.97% for PSCW. On fees, GCOW is cheaper at 0.60% per year. On volatility, PSCW has been the lower-risk option at 1.45%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, GCOW has performed better with a 11.72% return vs 6.97%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
GCOW is cheaper with a 0.60% expense ratio, compared with 0.61% for PSCW.
GCOW has the higher dividend yield at 4.90%, compared with 0.00% for PSCW.
PSCW is categorized as Defined Outcome, while GCOW is Large Cap Value Equities. Their fees differ too: 0.61% for PSCW and 0.60% for GCOW.
PSCW currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.71 vs 1.91), 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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