COWZ vs SCHD: which was the better investment?
Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF against Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Dec 22, 2016 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did COWZ beat SCHD?
Yes — measured from Dec 22, 2016 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, COWZ came out ahead: $31,196 versus $30,375 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 12.6% annual return against 12.3%.
What would $10,000 in COWZ be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF (COWZ) on Dec 22, 2016 would be worth about $31,196 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 212.0% (12.6% per year). The same $10,000 in SCHD would be worth $30,375.
Which was riskier — COWZ or SCHD?
COWZ swung with an annualized volatility of 19.9% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -38.6%; SCHD ran at 17.0% volatility with a -33.4% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.54 for COWZ vs 0.61 for SCHD.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Dec 22, 2016 through Jul 15, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with COWZ vs SCHD. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.