ARKK vs PCLG
ARK Innovation ETF vs Polen Focus Growth ETF
Which is better, ARKK or PCLG?
ARKK has been ahead.
PCLG has a lower expense ratio. ARKK led over 1Y and the full window. ARKK is less concentrated, with 50.3% 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 | ARKK | PCLG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.49%Best |
| AUM | $7.9B | $92M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Holdings | 84 | 27 |
| YTD Return | +9.42%Best | -4.21% |
| 1Y Return | -4.04%Best | -6.81% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +30.55% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -5.69% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 31.4% | 17.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -31.4% | -23.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 1 years | $9,932Best | $9,382 |
| Top 10 Weight | 50.3%Best | 62.6% |
| Fund Family | Ark Invest | Polen Capital |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Oct 31, 2014 | 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 15, 2026 (1 years).
ARKK 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.
ARKK vs PCLG Performance
ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) is an ETF from Ark Invest and Polen Focus Growth ETF (PCLG) is an ETF from Polen Capital. Over the past year ARKK returned -4.04% while PCLG returned -6.81%. Year to date, ARKK is up 9.42% versus a loss of 4.21% for PCLG.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ARKK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 31.4% compared with 17.9% for PCLG. 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 -31.4% for ARKK 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 0.58. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ARKK charges 0.75% per year while PCLG charges 0.49%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $49 annually, a gap of $26 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ARKK currently yields 0.00% against 0.04% for PCLG.
Holdings Overlap
16.4% of ARKK's money is in holdings PCLG also owns. 41.7% of PCLG's money is in holdings ARKK also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
8 positions in common, counted across the 41 positions we hold weights for in ARKK and 29 in PCLG, against full books of 84 and 27.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 18 positions for PCLG that do not appear in our book for ARKK (55.6% of the fund), and 31 for ARKK that do not appear in PCLG (77.7%).
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 ARKK | Weight in PCLG | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 3.47% | 7.82% | 4.35% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.36% | 5.98% | 3.62% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.74% | 6.13% | 4.39% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 1.40% | 6.16% | 4.76% |
| SHOP:CAShopify Inc | 2.87% | 4.49% | 1.62% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.85% | 4.38% | 1.53% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 0.46% | 4.80% | 4.34% |
| 2330:TWTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd | 1.29% | 1.96% | 0.67% |
41.7% of PCLG is already inside ARKK.
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, ARKK or PCLG?
ARKK has an expense ratio of 0.75% while PCLG charges 0.49%. PCLG is the cheaper option, by $26 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ARKK or PCLG?
Over the past year ARKK returned -4.04% vs -6.81% for PCLG, so ARKK leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), ARKK annualized -0.68% vs -6.18% for PCLG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ARKK or PCLG?
ARKK has been the more volatile fund at 31.4% annualized versus 17.9% for PCLG. Worst drawdown: ARKK -31.4% vs PCLG -23.8%.
Should I hold both ARKK and PCLG?
ARKK and PCLG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.58, 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 ARKK and PCLG?
41.7% of PCLG's money is in holdings ARKK also owns. 41.7% of PCLG's is in holdings ARKK also owns. They hold 8 positions in common, counted across the 41 positions we hold weights for in ARKK and 29 in PCLG.
Which pays a higher dividend, ARKK or PCLG?
ARKK yields 0.00% while PCLG yields 0.04%, so PCLG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is PCLG better than ARKK?
PCLG has a lower expense ratio. ARKK led over 1Y and the full window. ARKK is less concentrated, with 50.3% 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.