Is Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF (COWZ) a Strong ETF Right Now?

Core Viewpoint - The Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF (COWZ) is a smart beta ETF launched on December 16, 2016, providing broad exposure to the large-cap value segment of the market [1] Fund Overview - COWZ is sponsored by Pacer ETFs and has accumulated over $19.72 billion in assets, making it one of the largest ETFs in the Style Box - Large Cap Value category [5] - The fund aims to match the performance of the Pacer US Cash Cows 100 Index, which targets large and mid-cap U.S. companies with high free cash flow yields [5] Cost Structure - COWZ has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.49%, which is competitive within its peer group [6] - The ETF offers a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.06% [6] Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation in the Healthcare sector, comprising approximately 19.9% of the portfolio, followed by Energy and Information Technology [7] - Nike Inc (NKE) represents about 2.17% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 20.95% of COWZ's total assets [8] Performance Metrics - As of September 8, 2025, COWZ has a return of roughly 3.14% and has increased by about 5.17% year-to-date [10] - The ETF has traded between $47.46 and $61.35 over the past 52 weeks, with a beta of 0.95 and a standard deviation of 17.67% for the trailing three-year period [10] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the large-cap value space include Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) and Vanguard Value ETF (VTV), with assets of $71.69 billion and $143.34 billion respectively [12] - SCHD has a lower expense ratio of 0.06%, while VTV has an expense ratio of 0.04%, making them potentially attractive alternatives for cost-conscious investors [12]