BAFE vs PWRD
Brown Advisory Flexible Equity ETF vs TCW Transform Systems ETF
Which is better, BAFE or PWRD?
Each has led over a different period.
BAFE has a lower expense ratio. BAFE led over 1Y, PWRD over the full window. BAFE is less concentrated, with 45.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 50.6%.
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 | BAFE | PWRD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.54%Best | 0.75% |
| AUM | $1.8B | $1.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.27% | 0.06% |
| Holdings | 90 | 56 |
| YTD Return | +9.97%Best | +3.29% |
| 1Y Return | +12.65%Best | +2.06% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +25.66% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.2%Best | 25.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -18.4%Best | -25.9% |
| $10,000 over 1.9 years | $12,035 | $13,557Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 45.4%Best | 50.6% |
| Fund Family | Brown Advisory | TCW ETFs |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 18, 2024 | Feb 2, 2022 |
Not shown on this pair: 5Y Return (annualized).
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 18, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.9 years).
BAFE vs PWRD 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 1.9 years both funds cover.
BAFE vs PWRD Performance
Brown Advisory Flexible Equity ETF (BAFE) is an ETF from Brown Advisory and TCW Transform Systems ETF (PWRD) is an ETF from TCW ETFs. Over the past year BAFE returned +12.65% while PWRD returned +2.06%. Year to date, BAFE is up 9.97% versus a gain of 3.29% for PWRD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PWRD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 25.5% compared with 13.2% for BAFE. 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 -18.4% for BAFE and -25.9% for PWRD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.67. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BAFE charges 0.54% per year while PWRD charges 0.75%. On a $10,000 position that is $54 vs $75 annually, a gap of $21 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BAFE currently yields 0.27% against 0.06% for PWRD.
Holdings Overlap
11.5% of BAFE's money is in holdings PWRD also owns. 16.7% of PWRD's money is in holdings BAFE also owns.
PWRD and BAFE share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 42 positions we hold weights for in BAFE and 28 in PWRD, against full books of 90 and 56.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 20 positions for PWRD that do not appear in our book for BAFE (68.0% of the fund), and 35 for BAFE that do not appear in PWRD (79.1%).
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 BAFE and PWRD 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, BAFE or PWRD?
BAFE has an expense ratio of 0.54% while PWRD charges 0.75%. BAFE is the cheaper option, by $21 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BAFE or PWRD?
Over the past year BAFE returned +12.65% vs +2.06% for PWRD, so BAFE leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), BAFE annualized +10.24% vs +17.37% for PWRD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BAFE or PWRD?
PWRD has been the more volatile fund at 25.5% annualized versus 13.2% for BAFE. Worst drawdown: BAFE -18.4% vs PWRD -25.9%.
Should I hold both BAFE and PWRD?
BAFE and PWRD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.67, 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 BAFE and PWRD?
16.7% of PWRD's money is in holdings BAFE also owns. 16.7% of PWRD's is in holdings BAFE also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 42 positions we hold weights for in BAFE and 28 in PWRD.
Which pays a higher dividend, BAFE or PWRD?
BAFE yields 0.27% while PWRD yields 0.06%, so BAFE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is PWRD better than BAFE?
BAFE has a lower expense ratio. BAFE led over 1Y, PWRD over the full window. BAFE is less concentrated, with 45.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 50.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.