PCLG vs SCHD
Polen Focus Growth ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, PCLG or SCHD?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 62.8%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | PCLG | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $89M | $108.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.04% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 27 | 206 |
| YTD Return | -6.18% | +20.89%Best |
| 1Y Return | -9.00% | +23.87%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +16.42% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.40% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.7% | 14.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -23.8% | -6.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1 years | $9,170 | $12,393Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 62.8% | 41.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Polen Capital | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Sep 30, 2025 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 30, 2025 to Oct 2, 2026 (1 years).
PCLG vs SCHD growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 1 years both funds cover.
PCLG vs SCHD Performance
Polen Focus Growth ETF (PCLG) is an ETF from Polen Capital and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year PCLG returned -9.00% while SCHD returned +23.87%. Year to date, PCLG is down 6.18% versus a gain of 20.89% for SCHD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PCLG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.7% compared with 14.5% for SCHD. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -23.8% for PCLG and -6.9% for SCHD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.07. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PCLG charges 0.49% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $6 annually, a gap of $43 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PCLG currently yields 0.04% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 30 holdings in PCLG and 99 in SCHD, totalling 100.0% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 30 positions we hold weights for in PCLG and 99 in SCHD, against full books of 27 and 206.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 98 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for PCLG (99.9% of the fund), and 25 for PCLG that do not appear in SCHD (91.7%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PCLG and SCHD you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, PCLG or SCHD?
PCLG has an expense ratio of 0.49% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $43 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PCLG or SCHD?
Over the past year PCLG returned -9.00% vs +23.87% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), PCLG annualized -8.30% vs +23.93% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PCLG or SCHD?
PCLG has been the more volatile fund at 17.7% annualized versus 14.5% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: PCLG -23.8% vs SCHD -6.9%.
Should I hold both PCLG and SCHD?
PCLG and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.07, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, PCLG or SCHD?
PCLG yields 0.04% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than PCLG?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 62.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.