PCLG vs VOO
Polen Focus Growth ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, PCLG or VOO?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 64.7%.
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 | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $92M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.04% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 27 | 509 |
| YTD Return | -8.32% | +11.55%Best |
| 1Y Return | -10.44% | +17.54%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.71% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.80% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.6% | 13.4%Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 64.7% | 36.4%Best |
| Fund Family | Polen Capital | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 30, 2025 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
PCLG vs VOO 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
PCLG vs VOO Performance
Polen Focus Growth ETF (PCLG) is an ETF from Polen Capital and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PCLG returned -10.44% while VOO returned +17.54%. Year to date, PCLG is down 8.32% versus a gain of 11.55% for VOO.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PCLG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.6% compared with 13.4% for VOO. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PCLG charges 0.49% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $3 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PCLG currently yields 0.04% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
91.4% of PCLG's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 29.1% of VOO's money is in holdings PCLG also owns.
Most of PCLG is already inside VOO. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
23 positions in common, counted across the 27 positions we hold weights for in PCLG and 505 in VOO, against full books of 27 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 473 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for PCLG (70.4% of the fund), and 1 for PCLG that do not appear in VOO (1.6%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PCLG | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 6.95% | 7.51% | 0.56% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 7.63% | 4.30% | 3.33% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 6.88% | 2.77% | 4.11% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 5.83% | 3.62% | 2.21% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 7.72% | 1.47% | 6.25% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 6.55% | 2.59% | 3.96% |
| VVisa Inc | 6.08% | 0.87% | 5.21% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 5.73% | 0.64% | 5.09% |
| NOWServicenow, Inc. | 6.05% | 0.16% | 5.89% |
| ORCLOracle Corp. | 4.21% | 0.39% | 3.82% |
91.4% of PCLG is already inside VOO.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, PCLG or VOO?
PCLG has an expense ratio of 0.49% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PCLG or VOO?
Over the past year PCLG returned -10.44% vs +17.54% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PCLG or VOO?
PCLG has been the more volatile fund at 18.6% annualized versus 13.4% for VOO.
Should I hold both PCLG and VOO?
PCLG and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between PCLG and VOO?
91.4% of PCLG's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 29.1% of VOO's is in holdings PCLG also owns. They hold 23 positions in common, counted across the 27 positions we hold weights for in PCLG and 505 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, PCLG or VOO?
PCLG yields 0.04% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than PCLG?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 64.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.