PCLG vs VTI
Polen Focus Growth ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, PCLG or VTI?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% 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 | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $89M | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.04% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 27 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | -4.15% | +14.43%Best |
| 1Y Return | -7.14% | +18.05%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.93% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.74% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.9% | 12.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -23.8% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1 years | $9,383 | $11,701Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 62.8% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Polen Capital | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 30, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
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 12, 2026 (1 years).
PCLG vs VTI 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 VTI Performance
Polen Focus Growth ETF (PCLG) is an ETF from Polen Capital and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PCLG returned -7.14% while VTI returned +18.05%. Year to date, PCLG is down 4.15% versus a gain of 14.43% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PCLG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.9% compared with 12.6% for VTI. 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 -8.9% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PCLG charges 0.49% per year while VTI 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 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
91.7% of PCLG's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 27.3% of VTI's money is in holdings PCLG also owns.
Most of PCLG is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 47 days apart, PCLG as of Sep 16, 2026 and VTI as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
25 positions in common, counted across the 30 positions we hold weights for in PCLG and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 27 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,125 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for PCLG (70.1% of the fund), and 0 for PCLG that do not appear in VTI (0.0%).
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 VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 7.51% | 6.40% | 1.11% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 9.07% | 4.79% | 4.28% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 5.98% | 3.65% | 2.33% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 6.27% | 2.31% | 3.96% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 5.97% | 2.56% | 3.41% |
| NOWServicenow, Inc | 6.85% | 0.16% | 6.69% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 5.80% | 0.83% | 4.97% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 5.67% | 0.63% | 5.04% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 4.82% | 1.35% | 3.47% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 4.23% | 1.70% | 2.53% |
91.7% of PCLG is already inside VTI.
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 VTI?
PCLG has an expense ratio of 0.49% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PCLG or VTI?
Over the past year PCLG returned -7.14% vs +18.05% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), PCLG annualized -6.17% vs +17.01% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PCLG or VTI?
PCLG has been the more volatile fund at 17.9% annualized versus 12.6% for VTI. Worst drawdown: PCLG -23.8% vs VTI -8.9%.
Should I hold both PCLG and VTI?
PCLG and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, 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 VTI?
91.7% of PCLG's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 27.3% of VTI's is in holdings PCLG also owns. They hold 25 positions in common, counted across the 30 positions we hold weights for in PCLG and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, PCLG or VTI?
PCLG yields 0.04% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than PCLG?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% 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.