SCHY vs. GCOW

Last updated Aug 5, 2026

SCHY (Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF) and GCOW (Pacer Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - SCHY is a Dividend fund tracking the Dow Jones International Dividend 100 Index (Net), while GCOW is a Large Cap Value Equities fund tracking the Pacer Global Cash Cows Dividends Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, SCHY returned 9.15%/yr vs 13.23%/yr for GCOW. Their correlation of 0.86 means they have usually moved in the same direction. SCHY charges 0.08%/yr vs 0.60%/yr for GCOW.

Performance

SCHY vs. GCOW - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF (SCHY) and Pacer Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF (GCOW). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with SCHY having a 14.32% return and GCOW slightly higher at 14.53%.

SCHY

• 1D: 0.42%
• 1M: 4.49%
• 6M: 6.33%
• YTD: 14.32%
• 1Y: 27.64%
• 3Y*: 16.91%
• 5Y*: 9.15%
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 9.47%

GCOW

• 1D: 0.00%
• 1M: 5.25%
• 6M: 5.40%
• YTD: 14.53%
• 1Y: 26.76%
• 3Y*: 16.49%
• 5Y*: 13.23%
• 10Y*: 9.81%
• ALL TIME*: 10.53%

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

Liquidity Comparison

Position	Avg. Volume Value (2W)	Avg. Volume Value (1M)	Avg. Volume Value (3M)
GCOW Pacer Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF	$12.92M	$12.70M	$12.24M
SCHY Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF	$27.21M	$25.61M	$19.67M

SCHY vs. GCOW - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021
SCHY Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF	14.32%	33.98%	-1.79%	14.27%	-9.43%	3.42%
GCOW Pacer Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF	14.53%	27.34%	3.52%	13.95%	5.49%	4.07%

Correlation

The correlation between SCHY and GCOW is 0.79, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.	0.79
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history.	0.83
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period.	0.86
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 29, 2021	0.86

The correlation between SCHY and GCOW has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.79 to 0.86 - a consistent structural relationship.

SCHY vs. GCOW - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	SCHY	GCOW
Consumer Defensive	17.6%	22.3%
Financial Services	13.2%	-
Communication Services	11.6%	15.0%
Technology	9.0%	2.9%
Industrials	8.8%	10.7%
Healthcare	8.6%	17.1%
Consumer Cyclical	7.6%	7.5%
Energy	7.2%	11.7%
Utilities	5.7%	6.8%
Basic Materials	5.4%	3.6%
Real Estate	0.6%	-

Return for Risk

SCHY vs. GCOW — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.

SCHY

SCHY Risk / Return Rank: 81
SCHY Sharpe Ratio Rank: 88
SCHY Sortino Ratio Rank: 87
SCHY Omega Ratio Rank: 87
SCHY Calmar Ratio Rank: 77
SCHY Martin Ratio Rank: 65

GCOW

GCOW Risk / Return Rank: 86
GCOW Sharpe Ratio Rank: 91
GCOW Sortino Ratio Rank: 92
GCOW Omega Ratio Rank: 89
GCOW Calmar Ratio Rank: 83
GCOW Martin Ratio Rank: 75

The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

SCHY vs. GCOW - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF (SCHY) 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.

	SCHY	GCOW	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.32	2.47	-0.15
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.17	3.57	-0.40
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.42	1.44	-0.02
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.05	3.43	-0.38
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	8.68	10.60	-1.92

SCHY vs. GCOW - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current SCHY Sharpe Ratio is 2.32, which is comparable to the GCOW Sharpe Ratio of 2.47. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of SCHY and GCOW, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

SCHY vs. GCOW - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum SCHY drawdown since its inception was -24.04%, smaller than the maximum GCOW drawdown of -37.64%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SCHY and GCOW.

Drawdown Indicators

	SCHY	GCOW	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-24.04%	-37.64%	+13.60%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-9.11%	-7.83%	-1.28%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-12.16%	-12.35%	+0.19%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-24.04%	-21.48%	-2.56%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-37.64%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.03%	-0.94%	+0.91%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-4.92%	-5.81%	+0.89%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.19%	2.53%	+0.66%

Volatility

SCHY vs. GCOW - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF (SCHY) is 2.58%, while Pacer Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF (GCOW) has a volatility of 2.95%. This indicates that SCHY 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.

Volatility by Period

	SCHY	GCOW	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	2.58%	2.95%	-0.37%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	10.01%	8.54%	+1.47%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	12.01%	10.88%	+1.13%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	13.27%	13.54%	-0.27%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	13.17%	16.01%	-2.84%

SCHY vs. GCOW - Expense Ratio Comparison

SCHY has a 0.08% expense ratio, which is lower than GCOW's 0.60% expense ratio.

Dividends

SCHY vs. GCOW - Dividend Comparison

SCHY's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.31%, less than GCOW's 4.59% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
GCOW Pacer Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF	4.59%	4.06%	5.14%	5.28%	4.39%	4.23%	4.12%	4.40%	3.94%	2.79%	1.95%
SCHY Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF	3.31%	3.55%	4.64%	3.97%	3.67%	1.73%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both SCHY and GCOW in my portfolio?

SCHY and GCOW have a correlation of 0.79, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, SCHY or GCOW?

GCOW has higher volatility (2.95%) compared to SCHY (2.58%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SCHY dropped -24.04% vs GCOW's -37.64%.

Which ETF is better, SCHY or GCOW?

On 5-year performance, GCOW leads with 13.23% vs 9.15% for SCHY. On fees, SCHY is cheaper at 0.08% per year. On volatility, SCHY has been the lower-risk option at 2.58%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, SCHY or GCOW?

Over the 5-year period, GCOW has performed better with a 13.23% return vs 9.15%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, SCHY or GCOW?

SCHY is cheaper with a 0.08% expense ratio, compared with 0.60% for GCOW.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, SCHY or GCOW?

GCOW has the higher dividend yield at 4.59%, compared with 3.31% for SCHY.

What is the main difference between SCHY and GCOW?

SCHY is categorized as Dividend, while GCOW is Large Cap Value Equities. SCHY tracks Dow Jones International Dividend 100 Index (Net), while GCOW tracks Pacer Global Cash Cows Dividends Index. They also come from different issuers: Charles Schwab and Pacer. Their fees differ too: 0.08% for SCHY and 0.60% for GCOW.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

GCOW currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.47 vs 2.32), 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.