PCLG vs VYM
Polen Focus Growth ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, PCLG or VYM?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 62.6%.
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 | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $92M | $78.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.04% | 2.37% |
| Holdings | 27 | 608 |
| YTD Return | -8.26% | +15.88%Best |
| 1Y Return | -12.48% | +19.41%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.48% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.91% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.6% | 11.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -23.8% | -6.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $8,943 | $12,023Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 62.6% | 25.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Polen Capital | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Sep 30, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 30, 2025 to Oct 29, 2026 (1.1 years).
PCLG vs VYM 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
PCLG vs VYM Performance
Polen Focus Growth ETF (PCLG) is an ETF from Polen Capital and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PCLG returned -12.48% while VYM returned +19.41%. Year to date, PCLG is down 8.26% versus a gain of 15.88% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PCLG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.6% compared with 11.8% for VYM. 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 -6.7% for VYM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.23. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PCLG charges 0.49% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $4 annually, a gap of $45 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PCLG currently yields 0.04% against 2.37% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
12.4% of PCLG's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 8.5% of VYM's money is in holdings PCLG also owns.
PCLG and VYM share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 29 positions we hold weights for in PCLG and 602 in VYM, against full books of 27 and 608.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 572 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for PCLG (89.9% of the fund), and 21 for PCLG that do not appear in VYM (78.5%).
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 VYM 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 VYM?
PCLG has an expense ratio of 0.49% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $45 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PCLG or VYM?
Over the past year PCLG returned -12.48% vs +19.41% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), PCLG annualized -9.66% vs +18.23% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PCLG or VYM?
PCLG has been the more volatile fund at 17.6% annualized versus 11.8% for VYM. Worst drawdown: PCLG -23.8% vs VYM -6.7%.
Should I hold both PCLG and VYM?
PCLG and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.23, 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 VYM?
12.4% of PCLG's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 8.5% of VYM's is in holdings PCLG also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 29 positions we hold weights for in PCLG and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, PCLG or VYM?
PCLG yields 0.04% while VYM yields 2.37%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than PCLG?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 62.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.