ADME vs PCLG
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF vs Polen Focus Growth ETF
Which is better, ADME or PCLG?
ADME has been ahead.
PCLG has a lower expense ratio. ADME led over 1Y and the full window. ADME is less concentrated, with 40.3% 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 | ADME | PCLG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.79% | 0.49%Best |
| AUM | $313M | $92M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.36% | 0.04% |
| Holdings | 167 | 27 |
| YTD Return | +9.94%Best | -5.60% |
| 1Y Return | +10.86%Best | -8.10% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.81% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.38% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.4%Best | 17.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -7.5%Best | -23.8% |
| $10,000 over 1 years | $11,008Best | $9,249 |
| Top 10 Weight | 40.3%Best | 62.6% |
| Fund Family | Aptus ETFs | Polen Capital |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jun 8, 2016 | Sep 30, 2025 |
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 14, 2026 (1 years).
ADME vs PCLG 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.
ADME vs PCLG Performance
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF (ADME) is an ETF from Aptus ETFs and Polen Focus Growth ETF (PCLG) is an ETF from Polen Capital. Over the past year ADME returned +10.86% while PCLG returned -8.10%. Year to date, ADME is up 9.94% versus a loss of 5.60% for PCLG.
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 11.4% for ADME. 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 -7.5% for ADME and -23.8% for PCLG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ADME charges 0.79% per year while PCLG charges 0.49%. On a $10,000 position that is $79 vs $49 annually, a gap of $30 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ADME currently yields 0.36% against 0.04% for PCLG.
Holdings Overlap
34.1% of ADME's money is in holdings PCLG also owns. 75.0% of PCLG's money is in holdings ADME also owns.
Most of PCLG is already inside ADME. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
18 positions in common, counted across the 164 positions we hold weights for in ADME and 29 in PCLG, against full books of 167 and 27.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 6 positions for PCLG that do not appear in our book for ADME (15.9% of the fund), and 145 for ADME that do not appear in PCLG (64.7%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ADME | Weight in PCLG | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 7.85% | 7.82% | 0.03% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.70% | 9.35% | 3.65% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 5.56% | 6.16% | 0.60% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.74% | 5.98% | 2.24% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.47% | 6.13% | 3.66% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 1.88% | 5.67% | 3.79% |
| NOWServicenow, Inc. | 0.25% | 6.62% | 6.37% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.26% | 4.38% | 2.12% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.40% | 4.80% | 3.40% |
| ORCLOracle Corp - Common | 0.37% | 4.43% | 4.06% |
75.0% of PCLG is already inside ADME.
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, ADME or PCLG?
ADME has an expense ratio of 0.79% while PCLG charges 0.49%. PCLG is the cheaper option, by $30 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ADME or PCLG?
Over the past year ADME returned +10.86% vs -8.10% for PCLG, so ADME leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), ADME annualized +10.08% vs -7.51% for PCLG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ADME or PCLG?
PCLG has been the more volatile fund at 17.7% annualized versus 11.4% for ADME. Worst drawdown: ADME -7.5% vs PCLG -23.8%.
Should I hold both ADME and PCLG?
ADME and PCLG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, 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 ADME and PCLG?
75.0% of PCLG's money is in holdings ADME also owns. 75.0% of PCLG's is in holdings ADME also owns. They hold 18 positions in common, counted across the 164 positions we hold weights for in ADME and 29 in PCLG.
Which pays a higher dividend, ADME or PCLG?
ADME yields 0.36% while PCLG yields 0.04%, so ADME currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is PCLG better than ADME?
PCLG has a lower expense ratio. ADME led over 1Y and the full window. ADME is less concentrated, with 40.3% 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.