PCLG vs VXUS
Polen Focus Growth ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, PCLG or VXUS?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y and the full window.
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 | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $89M | $164.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.04% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 27 | 8,844 |
| YTD Return | -6.18% | +12.44%Best |
| 1Y Return | -9.00% | +18.26%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.40% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.67% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.7% | 13.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -23.8% | -11.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 1 years | $9,170 | $11,920Best |
| Fund Family | Polen Capital | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 30, 2025 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
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 VXUS 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 VXUS Performance
Polen Focus Growth ETF (PCLG) is an ETF from Polen Capital and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PCLG returned -9.00% while VXUS returned +18.26%. Year to date, PCLG is down 6.18% versus a gain of 12.44% for VXUS.
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 13.9% for VXUS. 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 -11.3% for VXUS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.38. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PCLG charges 0.49% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $5 annually, a gap of $44 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PCLG currently yields 0.04% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 5.3% of PCLG's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 89.3% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
PCLG and VXUS share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 47 days apart, PCLG as of Sep 16, 2026 and VXUS as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
2 positions in common, counted across the 30 positions we hold weights for in PCLG and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 27 and 8,844.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PCLG and VXUS 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 VXUS?
PCLG has an expense ratio of 0.49% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $44 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PCLG or VXUS?
Over the past year PCLG returned -9.00% vs +18.26% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), PCLG annualized -8.30% vs +19.20% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PCLG or VXUS?
PCLG has been the more volatile fund at 17.7% annualized versus 13.9% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: PCLG -23.8% vs VXUS -11.3%.
Should I hold both PCLG and VXUS?
PCLG and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.38, 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 VXUS?
At least 5.3% of PCLG's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 30 positions we hold weights for in PCLG and 8,082 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, PCLG or VXUS?
PCLG yields 0.04% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than PCLG?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.